Propagation of instability in dielectric elastomers

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOLIDS AND STRUCTURES

卷:45

Article

Zhou, Jinxiong^1,2  Hong, Wei¹  Zhao, Xuanhe¹  Zhang, Zhiqian³  Suo, Zhigang¹ 

[1] Harvard Univ, Sch Engn & Appl Sci, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA

[2] Xi An Jiao Tong Univ, Sch Aerosp, MOE Key Lab Strength & Vibrat, Xian 710049, Peoples R China

[3] Keio Univ, Fac Sci & Technol, Yokohama, Kanagawa 2238522, Japan

关键词: dielectric elastomer;    large deformation;    meshfree method;    electric field;    instability;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2007.09.031

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

When an electric voltage is applied across the thickness of a thin layer of an dielectric elastomer, the layer reduces its thickness and expands its area. This electrically induced deformation can be rapid and large, and is potentially useful as soft actuators in diverse technologies. Recent experimental and theoretical studies have shown that, when the voltage exceeds some critical value, the homogenous deformation of the layer becomes unstable, and the layer deforms into a mixture of thin and thick regions. Subsequently, as more electric charge is applied, the thin regions enlarge at the expense of the thick regions. On the basis of a recently formulated nonlinear field theory, this paper develops a meshfree method to simulate numerically this instability. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

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