Frequency response of fiber reinforced DEAs

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Contributors

  • Stefania Konstantinidi - , Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) (Author)
  • Markus Koenigsdorff - , Chair of Solid State Electronics (Author)
  • Thomas Martinez - , Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) (Author)
  • Yoan Civet - , Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) (Author)
  • Gerald Gerlach - , Chair of Solid State Electronics (Author)
  • Yves Perriard - , Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) (Author)

Abstract

Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEAs) have emerged as versatile and promising devices for a multitude of applications, including soft robotics, haptic interfaces, and artificial muscles. DEAs are an interesting soft actuator technology due to their high energy density, and fast response. They can be described as compliant capacitors composed of a dielectric elastomer film situated between two electrodes. When a voltage is applied, it induces a compressive Maxwell stress, causing a reduction in thickness and thus an expansion in the other dimensions. However, DEAs tend to exhibit limited deformations under uni-axial forces. To overcome this limitation and induce substantial uni-axial deformations, it is suggested that DEAs should be constrained in the other directions. This constraint can be realized by reinforcing the DEA with unidirectional fibers, resulting in strains up to 75% higher for reinforced DEAs than for conventional DEAs. In this paper, the response time of uni-axial fiber-reinforced DEAs is studied, to evaluate the influence of the reinforcement on the frequency response. To that end, uni-axial fiber reinforced DEAs with a silicone dielectric layer are fabricated by embedding 3D printed fibers of different materials onto the actuators. Fused deposition modelling is used by tuning the infill of the printed part, allowing a fast, simple, and accessible fabrication of the fibers. The response time of the actuators is improved with the use of uni-axial fiber reinforced DEAs, as they provide a more rigid structure and less losses, with a decrease of up to 15% in the response time.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationElectroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) XXVI
EditorsJohn D. Madden
PublisherSPIE - The international society for optics and photonics
ISBN (electronic)9781510671966
Publication statusPublished - 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

Publication series

SeriesProceedings Of Spie
Volume12945
ISSN0277-786X

Conference

TitleElectroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices XXVI
Abbreviated titleEAPAD 2024
Conference number26
Duration25 - 27 March 2024
LocationHilton Long Beach Hotel
CityLong Beach
CountryUnited States of America

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-7062-9598/work/174430534