Dynamic performance of silicone dielectric elastomer actuators with bi-stable buckled beams

A significant limitation of large-scale dielectric electroactive polymers (DEAP) actuators is their slow and rate dependent dynamic response. We develop a procedure to characterize, model and test DEAP planar actuators with integrated bi-stable mechanisms. We describe a procedure to design the bi-stable element, a post-buckled slender beam, so as to improve the quasi-static performance of the actuator. The impact of the bi-stable mechanism on the dynamic performance of the actuator is studied by measuring its maximum planar peak-topeak displacement upon dynamic excitation. Surprisingly, the dynamic performance is strongly enhanced by the bi-stable mechanism. The frequency response flattens and becomes almost frequency independent up to the resonant frequency of the actuator. Moreover, a four-fold increase in active displacement stroke is achieved. The margin for further improvements is large, commensurated with the aims of the present research: namely the fabrication of large-scale, planar oscillating surfaces for turbulent flow control purposes.

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