Abstract
Various complex shapes of dielectric electro-active polymer (DEAP) actuator have been promoted for several types of applications. In this study, the actuation and mechanical dynamics characteristics of a new core free flat DEAP soft actuator were investigated. This actuator was developed by Danfoss PolyPower. DC voltage of up to 2000 V was supplied for identifying the actuation characteristics of the actuator and compare with the existing formula. The operational frequency of the actuator was determined by dynamic testing. Then, the soft actuator has been modelled as a uniform bar rigidly fixed at one end and attached to mass at another end. Results from the theoretical model were compared with the experimental results. It was found that the deformation of the current actuator was quadratic proportional to the voltage supplied. It was found that experimental results and theory were not in good agreement for low and high voltage with average percentage error are 104% and 20.7%, respectively. The resonance frequency of the actuator was near 14 Hz. Mass of load added, inhomogeneity and initial tension significantly affected the resonance frequency of the soft actuator. The experimental results were consistent with the theoretical model at zero load. However, due to inhomogeneity, the frequency response function’s plot underlines a poor prediction where the theoretical calculation was far from experimental results as values of load increasing with the average percentage error 15.7%. Hence, it shows the proposed analytical procedure not suitable to provide accurate natural frequency for the DEAP soft actuator.
Highlights
Dielectric electroactive polymers (DEAPs) have received much attention in recent years to be an adequate replacement for many conventional actuators
Li et al modeled stacked DEAP to find the optimized parameter for the actuator been used in active vibration control [7]
The results proved that the flat DEAP soft actuator was nonlinear electromechanical devices
Summary
Dielectric electroactive polymers (DEAPs) have received much attention in recent years to be an adequate replacement for many conventional actuators. The researcher has made an effort to fabricate different ways of DE actuators for optimizing the stroke and force for various applications. Li et al modeled stacked DEAP to find the optimized parameter for the actuator been used in active vibration control [7]. Work by Steffen Hau et al, investigate the influence of geometry on the performance of dynamic stroke and force output for circular membrane DEAP [8]. Work by Berardi modeled the dynamics characteristic of the core-freerolled tubular DE actuator and the actuator successfully control the vibration at a low-frequency range below 10 Hz [9]. Sarban et al evaluate the fabrication, characterization and active vibration isolation perform for the core-freerolled tubular DE actuator. Carpi et al fabricated DE folded actuator for application in linear contractile equipment and the second type of actuator that operates with out-of-plane unidirectional displacements of an elastomer membrane [11]
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