Applied Mathematics and Mechanics (English Edition) ›› 2018, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (4): 547-560.doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10483-018-2318-8

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Electro-viscoelastic behaviors of circular dielectric elastomer membrane actuator containing concentric rigid inclusion

Zhengang WANG, Tianhu HE   

  1. School of Science, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, China
  • 收稿日期:2017-05-12 修回日期:2017-10-29 出版日期:2018-04-01 发布日期:2018-04-01
  • 通讯作者: Tianhu HE, E-mail:heth@lut.cn E-mail:heth@lut.cn
  • 基金资助:

    Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 11372123)

Electro-viscoelastic behaviors of circular dielectric elastomer membrane actuator containing concentric rigid inclusion

Zhengang WANG, Tianhu HE   

  1. School of Science, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, China
  • Received:2017-05-12 Revised:2017-10-29 Online:2018-04-01 Published:2018-04-01
  • Contact: Tianhu HE E-mail:heth@lut.cn
  • Supported by:

    Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 11372123)

摘要:

The time-dependent electro-viscoelastic performance of a circular dielectric elastomer (DE) membrane actuator containing an inclusion is investigated in the context of the nonlinear theory for viscoelastic dielectrics. The membrane, a key part of the actuator, is centrally attached to a rigid inclusion of the radius a, and then connected to a fixed rigid ring of the radius b. When subject to a pressure and a voltage, the membrane inflates into an out-of-plane shape and undergoes an inhomogeneous large deformation. The governing equations for the large deformation are derived by means of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, and viscoelasticity of the membrane is characterized by a rheological spring-dashpot model. In the simulation, effects of the pressure, the voltage, and design parameters on the electromechanical viscoelastic behaviors of the membrane are investigated. Evolutions of the considered variables and profiles of the deformed membrane are obtained numerically and illustrated graphically. The results show that electromechanical loadings and design parameters significantly influence the electro-viscoelastic behaviors of the membrane. The design parameters can be tailored to improve the performance of the membrane. The approach may provide guidelines in designing and optimizing such DE devices.

关键词: integral equation, thin plate, vibration, actuator, electro-viscoelastic performance, soft active material, timedependent behavior, dielectric elastomer (DE) membrane

Abstract:

The time-dependent electro-viscoelastic performance of a circular dielectric elastomer (DE) membrane actuator containing an inclusion is investigated in the context of the nonlinear theory for viscoelastic dielectrics. The membrane, a key part of the actuator, is centrally attached to a rigid inclusion of the radius a, and then connected to a fixed rigid ring of the radius b. When subject to a pressure and a voltage, the membrane inflates into an out-of-plane shape and undergoes an inhomogeneous large deformation. The governing equations for the large deformation are derived by means of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, and viscoelasticity of the membrane is characterized by a rheological spring-dashpot model. In the simulation, effects of the pressure, the voltage, and design parameters on the electromechanical viscoelastic behaviors of the membrane are investigated. Evolutions of the considered variables and profiles of the deformed membrane are obtained numerically and illustrated graphically. The results show that electromechanical loadings and design parameters significantly influence the electro-viscoelastic behaviors of the membrane. The design parameters can be tailored to improve the performance of the membrane. The approach may provide guidelines in designing and optimizing such DE devices.

Key words: integral equation, thin plate, vibration, dielectric elastomer (DE) membrane, soft active material, actuator, timedependent behavior, electro-viscoelastic performance

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