Abstract
The paper presents a concept of an actuator, based on a silicon/ethanol composite placed in the brass bellows. Such actuator is operating based on a change in the physical state of ethanol, which is enclosed in bubbles surrounded by a matrix of silicone rubber. In this paper, the prototype of the actuator is described, and a series of its test results, in the open and closed loops, are presented. Two laser distance-sensors, with different accuracies, were used as a source of the feedback signal. During the investigations the temperature of the actuator was also measured. This has allowed us to determine the delay in heat flow from the heater to the composite. In the closed loop, P- and PI-type controllers were used in the drive positioning experiments. It was discovered that in the closed loop control, it was possible to achieve a positioning error of less than 200 µm. During the tests, the temperature inside the drive and the ambient temperature were also measured. In order to improve the dynamics of the drive, a small fan was used, controlled by the automation system. It allowed us to shorten the time to return the drive to its starting position. The results of frequency tests of the drive have also been presented.
Highlights
Smart actuators are made of materials that can change their dimensions in response to change of environmental conditions
A variety of smart materials are available today, and among them, silicon-based ones appear to be very attractive for practical applications and research
A change in the physical state of a material is often associated with a significant volume difference
Summary
Smart actuators are made of materials that can change their dimensions in response to change of environmental conditions. In paper [15], 55–85 ◦C has been determined as the proper temperature range for investigations based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) In such temperature the most significant actuation takes place and the material can work without undergoing rapid degradation [15]. The commonly applied methods of increasing temperature of the composite materials used as actuators are mostly based on resistance heating. The possibilities of the silicone-ethanol composite applications have been investigated only in terms of the forces and displacements that can be generated These studies have largely been carried out on objects that were modified McKibben actuators. This article describes the results of research on the positioning of a silicone/ethanol composite-based actuator. 000..5575 τd [sτ]1τ1τ11[5[5s[52s4s4]44]]HHeeaattiiτnng[gsT]T2T221r8r[r883[H[s8s8s83]e]]ating tag α Tr [t0ts00a.]a..0g00g2224α5α559
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