Complex interplay of nonlinear processes in dielectric elastomers

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2012 May;85(5 Pt 1):051801. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.85.051801. Epub 2012 May 9.

Abstract

A combination of experiment and theory shows that dielectric elastomers exhibit complex interplay of nonlinear processes. Membranes of a dielectric elastomer are prepared in various states of prestretches by using rigid clamps and mechanical forces. Upon actuation by voltage, some membranes form wrinkles followed by snap-through instability, others form wrinkles without the snap-through instability, and still others fail by local instability without forming wrinkles. Membranes surviving these nonlinear processes are found to attain a constant dielectric strength, independent of the state of prestretches. Giant voltage-induced stretch of 3.6 is attained.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Elastomers*
  • Electric Impedance
  • Nonlinear Dynamics*

Substances

  • Elastomers