Performance Optimization of a Conical Dielectric Elastomer Actuator
Performance Optimization of a Conical Dielectric Elastomer Actuator
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DOI：
10.3390/act7020032
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发表时间：
2018-06-01
期刊：
影响因子：
2.6
通讯作者：
Conn, Andrew T.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Cao, Chongjing;Conn, Andrew T.
介电弹性体驱动器（DEAs）因其驱动应变大、能量密度高和自感知能力强而被称为人工肌肉。锥形结构由于其紧凑性好、易于制造和驱动行程大等优点，在仿生运动和微型泵等DEA应用中得到了广泛的应用。然而，DEA膜的锥形突出的特征在于不均匀的应力，这使它们的设计复杂化。在这项工作中，我们提出了一个基于分析模型的优化锥形DEA与三个偏置元件：（I）线性压缩弹簧;（II）偏置质量;和（III）对抗性双锥DEA。优化是通过调整圆锥形DEA的几何形状（内盘与外框的半径比a/B）和预拉伸比来找到其最大行程和最大功输出。结果表明：（a）对于所有三种情况，对于帕克硅橡胶弹性体，预拉伸比为1 × 1时，冲程和功输出最大，这表明平面外变形引起的拉伸对于该特定弹性体是足够的。(b)冲程最大化是在较低的a/B比下获得的，而需要较大的a/B比来最大化功输出，但是在所有三种情况下，最佳a/B比都小于0.3。(c)双锥结构具有最大的冲程，而具有偏置质量的单锥具有最高的功输出。
Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) are known as artificial muscles' due to their large actuation strain, high energy density and self-sensing capability. The conical configuration has been widely adopted in DEA applications such as bio-inspired locomotion and micropumps for its good compactness, ease for fabrication and large actuation stroke. However, the conical protrusion of the DEA membrane is characterized by inhomogeneous stresses, which complicate their design. In this work, we present an analytical model-based optimization for conical DEAs with the three biasing elements: (I) linear compression spring; (II) biasing mass; and (III) antagonistic double-cone DEA. The optimization is to find the maximum stroke and work output of a conical DEA by tuning its geometry (inner disk to outer frame radius ratio a/b) and pre-stretch ratio. The results show that (a) for all three cases, stroke and work output are maximum for a pre-stretch ratio of 1 x 1 for the Parker silicone elastomer, which suggests the stretch caused by out-of-plane deformation is sufficient for this specific elastomer. (b) Stroke maximization is obtained for a lower a/b ratio while a larger a/b ratio is required to maximize work output, but the optimal a/b ratio is less than 0.3 in all three cases. (c) The double-cone configuration has the largest stroke while single cone with a biasing mass has the highest work output.