Electro-mechanical modeling of dielectric elastomer transducers with micro-structured electrodes

Arne Schmidt; Andrea Bergamini; Christa Jordi; Gabor Kovacs; Edoardo Mazza

doi:10.1117/12.880287

28 March 2011 Electro-mechanical modeling of dielectric elastomer transducers with micro-structured electrodes

Arne Schmidt, Andrea Bergamini, Christa Jordi, Gabor Kovacs, Edoardo Mazza

Proceedings Volume 7976, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2011; 79760L (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.880287
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2011, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Recently micro-structured solid electrodes were applied to dielectric elastomers. Compared with common powder or liquid electrodes the electrical conductivity of the electrodes is enhanced while the compliance necessary for large active deformations is retained. Envisaged applications range from energy harvesting to structural damping and actuation. The compliant conducting electrodes can be attached to the passive dielectric materials in a standardized and well controlled process. This enhanced the general interest in the technology and more applications are expected. While some of these applications aim for maximum actuation performance others require a superior reliability at moderate performance. For both strategies design and optimization of the active parts are essential. This work provides results of an extensive experimental characterization of the passive and active response of a novel PolyPower membrane. We further developed a 3D nonlinear viscoelastic model suitable for finite element simulation and verified the main assumptions of the modeling approach with mechanical tests. The model is shown to provide good predictions of both passive behavior as well as active deformation of an actuator system.

Citation Download Citation

Arne Schmidt, Andrea Bergamini, Christa Jordi, Gabor Kovacs, and Edoardo Mazza "Electro-mechanical modeling of dielectric elastomer transducers with micro-structured electrodes", Proc. SPIE 7976, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2011, 79760L (28 March 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.880287

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