PARAMETER OPTIMIZATION IN SPRING-ROLL DIELECTRIC ELASTOMER ACTUATOR DESIGN

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Electronics and Communication Dept.,Faculty of Engineering, Helwan University, Cairo,Egypt

2 Industrial Training Council.,Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

The performance of a given type of actuators can be markedly enhanced
by judicious choosing parameters of design. However, choosing
parameters of design to optimize the actuator’s performance has been
challenging due to nonlinear equations of state, multiple modes of
failure, parameters of design, and measures of performance. The
actuator has three dimensionless parameters of design, the pre-stretches
in length and width of the plane of the elastomer membrane and the
dimensionless ratio between the stiffness of the spring and that of the
elastomer. These parameters of design are prescribed once the actuator
is constructed. This paper aims to optimize these parameters to get the
maximum actuation of Spring-Roll Dielectric Elastomer actuator.
Analysis and software programs are developed to graphically represent
the equations of state for any design parameter values. Also, to design
the dimensions of the actuator, the applied voltage, and the stiffness of
the spring when the axial length at relax and axial load are prescribed.
Different loads and actuator axial lengths and their counterpart designs
are also addressed. Actuation range and maximum actuation for each
design are determined. Compared with the most recent work [1-6], the
achieved results show that the presented work outperforms.
In addition to, getting out of the region of failure modes is described.
This paper also presents robust and reliable design techniques for a
Spring-Roll Dielectric Elastomer Actuator, whose actuation exceeds 300
% and could be used as a promising device in various medical
applications.

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JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences
Volume 39, No 2
March and April 2011
Pages 359-376

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