Experimental Electro-Mechanics of Dielectric Elastomers

本奖项的研究目标是建立弹性体材料的介电击穿与电场诱导变形之间的相互关系。研究目标的一部分将是量化缺陷的作用，以及由导电纤维和电极几何形状产生的电场诱导的机械定位。该方法将主要是实验性的，直接测量由不同光纤电极排列和各种器件几何形状的预拉伸和施加电压产生的变形场。这些观察结果将与基于可变形电介质的非线性机电耦合理论的建模研究进行比较和补充。这些将共同用于设计和构建能够承受极端应变的概念验证电控设备。如果成功，这项研究的好处将包括在工程应用中使用介电弹性体的简化设计，包括能量收集装置，线性执行器和显示器。该项目还将为哈佛现有的外展项目做出贡献，包括本科生研究、当地高中外展以及其他社区外展项目。

The research objective of this award is to establish the inter-relationship between dielectric breakdown and electric-field induced deformation of elastomeric materials. Integral to the research objective will be quantifying the role of defects as well as electric-field induced mechanical localization produced by conducting fibers and electrode geometry. The approach will be largely experimental with direct measurements of the deformation fields produced by pre-straining and applied voltages for different fiber electrode arrangements and for a variety of device geometries. The observations will be compared with and complemented by modeling studies based on theories of nonlinear electro-mechanical coupling of deformable dielectrics. Together, these will be used to design and construct proof-of-concept electrically controlled devices capable of extreme strains.If successful, the benefits of this research will include simplified designs for utilizing dielectric elastomers in engineering applications including energy harvesting devices, linear actuators and displays. The project will also contribute to Harvard's existing outreach programs involving undergraduate research and local high-school outreach, other community outreach programs.