High voltage is required for the existing dielectric elastomer (DE) actuators to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy. However, maintaining high voltage on DE membranes can cause various failures, such as current leakage and electrical breakdown, which limits their practical applications, especially in small-scale devices. To overcome the above drawback of DE actuators, this paper proposes a new actuation method using DE membranes with a properly designed bistable structure. Experiment shows that the actuator only requires a high-voltage pulse to drive the structure forward and backward with electromechanical snap-through instability. The actuator can maintain its stroke when the voltage is removed. An analytical model based on continuum mechanics is developed, showing good agreement with experiment. The study may inspire the design and optimization of DE transducers.
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April 2014
Research-Article
Electromechanical Bistable Behavior of a Novel Dielectric Elastomer Actuator
Shaoxing Qu
Shaoxing Qu
1
e-mail: squ@zju.edu.cn
Soft Matter Research Center (SMRC),
Zhejiang University,
Hangzhou 310027,
Department of Engineering Mechanics
,Soft Matter Research Center (SMRC),
Zhejiang University,
38 Zheda Road
,Hangzhou 310027,
China
1Corresponding author.
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Shaoxing Qu
e-mail: squ@zju.edu.cn
Soft Matter Research Center (SMRC),
Zhejiang University,
Hangzhou 310027,
Department of Engineering Mechanics
,Soft Matter Research Center (SMRC),
Zhejiang University,
38 Zheda Road
,Hangzhou 310027,
China
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received August 30, 2013; final manuscript received September 20, 2013; accepted manuscript posted September 25, 2013; published online November 13, 2013. Editor: Yonggang Huang.
J. Appl. Mech. Apr 2014, 81(4): 041019 (5 pages)
Published Online: November 13, 2013
Article history
Received:
August 30, 2013
Revision Received:
September 20, 2013
Accepted:
September 25, 2013
Citation
Li, T., Zou, Z., Mao, G., and Qu, S. (November 13, 2013). "Electromechanical Bistable Behavior of a Novel Dielectric Elastomer Actuator." ASME. J. Appl. Mech. April 2014; 81(4): 041019. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4025530
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