What is it about?
In this article, a multi electrode design of a dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) is introduced. The objective is to increase the possible strain achieved in the center of the actuator. The authors introduce a model describing the behaviour of the actuator and compared it with experiments. The model as well the measurement are used to optimize the design for a maximum strain. The design is promising as it allows to reduce the viscoelastic effect, often occured in dielectric materials as both electrodes are working as antagonists. Besides the advantages, also the current challenges are presented and discussed in the paper.
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Why is it important?
The design allows to optimise the strain output without increasing the device size itself (1.3 times compared to traditional dot actuators). In addition, it presents an interesting method for the optimization (design of experiment) which is useful also in other applications. Last but not least, it present an interesting behaviour as the antagonistic design could lead to a reduced viscoelastic effect of the dielectric material. This design approach could be advantageous in other design, especially when acrylic materials (increased viscous behaviour) are used for dielectric elastomer actuator.
Perspectives
In future, the design can be further exploit by using control algorithms to optimize the actuator behaviour. In addition, the authors can imaging that the usability can be presented by applying the design in different situations like optics, biology or soft robotics.
Simon Holzer
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Design and Characterization of an Equibiaxial Multi-Electrode Dielectric Elastomer Actuator, Materials, April 2025, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/ma18081693.
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