Theoretical study of the electroactive bistable actuator and regulation methods
ABSTRACTDielectric elastomer actuators have attracted growing interest for soft robot due to their large deformation and fast response. However, continuous high-voltage loading tends to cause the electric breakdown of the actuator due to heat accumulation, and viscoelasticity complicates precise con...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Smart and Nano Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19475411.2022.2152128 |
| _version_ | 1797871838712299520 |
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| author | Wenjie Sun Huwei Liang Fei Zhang Bo Li |
| author_facet | Wenjie Sun Huwei Liang Fei Zhang Bo Li |
| author_sort | Wenjie Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACTDielectric elastomer actuators have attracted growing interest for soft robot due to their large deformation and fast response. However, continuous high-voltage loading tends to cause the electric breakdown of the actuator due to heat accumulation, and viscoelasticity complicates precise control. The snap-through bistability of the Venus flytrap is one of the essential inspirations for bionic structure, which can be adopted to improve the shortcoming of dielectric elastomer actuators and develop a new actuation structure with low energy consumption, variable configuration, and multi-mode actuation. Hence, in this paper, the structural design principles of electroactive bistable actuators are first presented based on the total potential energy of the structure. Following that, a feasible design parameter region is provided, the influence of crucial parameters on the actuation stroke, trigger voltage, and actuation charge are discussed. Finally, according to the coupling relationship between the bending stiffness and the bistable property of the actuator, the adjusting methods of bistable actuation are explored. A qualitative experiment was performed to verify the feasibility and correctness of the bistable design methodology and the actuation regulation strategy. This study provides significant theoretical guidance and technical support for developing and applying dielectric elastomer actuators with multi-mode, high-performance, and long-life characteristics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T00:50:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0da00b88eeb04cb2bff77c7a5e275f78 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1947-5411 1947-542X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T00:50:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Smart and Nano Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-0da00b88eeb04cb2bff77c7a5e275f782023-03-13T11:01:50ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Smart and Nano Materials1947-54111947-542X2023-01-01141365610.1080/19475411.2022.2152128Theoretical study of the electroactive bistable actuator and regulation methodsWenjie Sun0Huwei Liang1Fei Zhang2Bo Li3School of Mechanical and Precision Instrument Engineering, Xi’an University of Technology, 710048, Xi’an, ChinaSchool of Mechanical and Precision Instrument Engineering, Xi’an University of Technology, 710048, Xi’an, ChinaCAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Micro-nano Energy and Sensor, Beijing Institute of Nano Energy and Nano Systems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 101400, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Manufacturing System Engineering, Shaanxi Key Lab for the Intelligent Robots, School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi’an, ChinaABSTRACTDielectric elastomer actuators have attracted growing interest for soft robot due to their large deformation and fast response. However, continuous high-voltage loading tends to cause the electric breakdown of the actuator due to heat accumulation, and viscoelasticity complicates precise control. The snap-through bistability of the Venus flytrap is one of the essential inspirations for bionic structure, which can be adopted to improve the shortcoming of dielectric elastomer actuators and develop a new actuation structure with low energy consumption, variable configuration, and multi-mode actuation. Hence, in this paper, the structural design principles of electroactive bistable actuators are first presented based on the total potential energy of the structure. Following that, a feasible design parameter region is provided, the influence of crucial parameters on the actuation stroke, trigger voltage, and actuation charge are discussed. Finally, according to the coupling relationship between the bending stiffness and the bistable property of the actuator, the adjusting methods of bistable actuation are explored. A qualitative experiment was performed to verify the feasibility and correctness of the bistable design methodology and the actuation regulation strategy. This study provides significant theoretical guidance and technical support for developing and applying dielectric elastomer actuators with multi-mode, high-performance, and long-life characteristics.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19475411.2022.2152128Dielectric elastomerbistable structuresnap-throughelectromechanical actuationminimum energy structure |
| spellingShingle | Wenjie Sun Huwei Liang Fei Zhang Bo Li Theoretical study of the electroactive bistable actuator and regulation methods International Journal of Smart and Nano Materials Dielectric elastomer bistable structure snap-through electromechanical actuation minimum energy structure |
| title | Theoretical study of the electroactive bistable actuator and regulation methods |
| title_full | Theoretical study of the electroactive bistable actuator and regulation methods |
| title_fullStr | Theoretical study of the electroactive bistable actuator and regulation methods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Theoretical study of the electroactive bistable actuator and regulation methods |
| title_short | Theoretical study of the electroactive bistable actuator and regulation methods |
| title_sort | theoretical study of the electroactive bistable actuator and regulation methods |
| topic | Dielectric elastomer bistable structure snap-through electromechanical actuation minimum energy structure |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19475411.2022.2152128 |
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