Abstract
This paper presents an electromechanical analysis of the nonlinear static response and the superimposed small-amplitude wave characteristics in an infinite periodic compressible dielectric elastomer (DE) laminate subjected to electrostatic excitations and prestress in the thickness direction. The enriched Gent material model is employed to account for the effects of strain stiffening and electrostriction of the DE laminate. The theory of nonlinear electroelasticity and related linearized incremental theory are exploited to derive the governing equations of nonlinear response and the dispersion relations of incremental shear and longitudinal waves. Numerical results reveal that the snap-through instability of a Gent DE laminate resulting from geometrical and material nonlinearities can be used to achieve a sharp transition in the position and width of wave band gaps. Furthermore, the influence of material properties (including Gent constants, the second strain invariant and electrostrictive parameters) and that of prestress on the snap-through instability and the electrostatic tunability of band gaps for both shear and longitudinal waves are discussed in detail. The electrostrictive effect and prestress are beneficial to stabilizing the periodic DE laminate. Depending on whether the snap-through instability occurs or not, a continuous variation or a sharp transition in wave band gaps can be realized by varying the electric stimuli. Our numerical findings are expected to provide a solid guidance for the design and manufacture of soft DE wave devices with tunable band structures.
Highlights
Dielectric elastomers (DEs) are one type of smart soft materials that can deform and change their physical properties dramatically in response to an external electric stimulus
The critical electric fields Ec3r at states rises with the increase of prestress, which implies that the application of prestress in the thickness direction is beneficial to stabilizing the periodic DE laminate
The nonlinear response and superimposed elastic wave motions in an infinite periodic DE laminate subjected to electromechanical loadings are theoretically investigated in this work
Summary
Dielectric elastomers (DEs) are one type of smart soft materials that can deform and change their physical properties dramatically in response to an external electric stimulus. A comprehensive electromechanical characterization of different DE materials was conducted experimentally by Chen et al (2019a) to promote practical applications of DE actuators and generators It is well-known that large deformations induced by the electric field will significantly affect the electromechanical properties of DEs, which may provide an effective approach to manipulating the acoustic/elastic waves in these soft matters. The primary objective of the present investigation is to shed light on the effects of material properties (including strain stiffening and electrostriction) and external loadings (including electric stimuli and prestress) on the nonlinear response and the superimposed shear and longitudinal waves in a periodic two-phase compressible DE laminate.
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