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Actuation and instability of interconnected dielectric elastomer balloons

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Abstract

We present a theoretical analysis of a prototype model of two inflated dielectric elastomer (DE) balloons connected via a small channel. Such an interconnected balloon system can work as an actuator. The active balloon is subject to applied voltage and can produce deformation, while the passive balloon serves to supply gas or to sustain external pressure. We analyze the actuating of such DE device, with special emphasis on the effects of ambient pressure, initial inflation pressure, and volume ratio of the two balloons on the actuation and instability of the system.

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Acknowledgments

This research is supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 11372239, 11472210, 11321062, and 11321202) and Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant LY13A020001). The authors are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments and suggestions on improving the writing of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures and School of Aerospace, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049, China

    Wenjie Sun & Jinxiong Zhou

  2. Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China

    Huiming Wang

Authors
  1. Wenjie Sun
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  2. Huiming Wang
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  3. Jinxiong Zhou
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Correspondence to Jinxiong Zhou.

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Sun, W., Wang, H. & Zhou, J. Actuation and instability of interconnected dielectric elastomer balloons. Appl. Phys. A 119, 443–449 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-015-9001-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-015-9001-y

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