Tubular Dielectric Elastomer Transducer with Hydrostatic Force Transmission

Abstract:
In this contribution a design for an actuator based on multilayer dielectric elastomer (DE) laminates is presented, which combines a DE-tube made of a rolled DE multilayer laminate with an oil based hydrostatic force transmission to control force-stroke characteristic. Based on a fundamental design concept, an exemplary actuator design is proposed and realized. An FE-simulation validates the functional principle of transmitting force and stroke via hydrostatic pressure and estimates resulting force-stroke characteristic of the actuator. Moreover, a realized prototype experimentally confirms the actuator’s functionality, whereby a maximum stroke of Deltaz ≈ 0.5mm at an electric field strength E > 60Vmicrometer(exp −1) was measured. The present work validates the proposed actuator concept, but also indicates some remaining shortcomings, which have to be improved in the future.