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Snap-through path in a bistable dielectric elastomer actuator

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Abstract

The dielectric elastomer (DE) has attracted significant attention due to its desired features, including large deformation, fast response, and high energy density. However, for a DE actuator (DEA) utilizing a snap-through deformation mode, most existing theoretical models fail to predict its deformation path. This paper develops a new finite element method (FEM) based on the three-parameter Gent-Gent model suitable for capturing strain-stiffening behaviors. The simulation results are verified by experiments, indicating that the FEM can accurately characterize the snap-through path of a DE. The method proposed in this paper provides theoretical guidance and inspiration for designing and applying DEs and bistable electroactive actuators.

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Funding

Project supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2019YFB1311600), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 11902248 and 52075411), the Shaanxi Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2020ZDLGY06-11), and the State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures of China (No. SV2018-KF-08)

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  1. These authors contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Precision Instrument Engineering, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an, 710048, China

    Wenjie Sun & Fei Zhang

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

    Wenjie Sun

  3. State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing System Engineering, Shaanxi Key Lab for Intelligent Robots, School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049, China

    Wentao Ma & Bo Li

  4. Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China

    Wei Hong

Authors
  1. Wenjie Sun
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  2. Wentao Ma
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  3. Fei Zhang
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  4. Wei Hong
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  5. Bo Li
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bo Li.

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Citation: SUN, W. J., MA, W. T., ZHANG, F., HONG, W., and LI, B. Snap-through path in a bistable dielectric elastomer actuator. Applied Mathematics and Mechanics (English Edition), 43(8), 1159–1170 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10483-022-2888-6

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Sun, W., Ma, W., Zhang, F. et al. Snap-through path in a bistable dielectric elastomer actuator. Appl. Math. Mech.-Engl. Ed. 43, 1159–1170 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10483-022-2888-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10483-022-2888-6

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