Snap-through actuation of thick-wall electroactive balloons

Stephan Rudykh, Kaushik Bhattacharya, Gal Debotton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

130 Scopus citations

Abstract

Solution to the problem of a spherical balloon made out of an electroactive polymer which is subjected to coupled mechanical and electrical excitations is determined. It is found that for certain material behaviors instabilities that correspond to abrupt changes in the balloon size can be triggered. This can be exploited to electrically control different actuation cycles as well as to use the balloon as a micro-pump.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)206-209
Number of pages4
JournalInternational Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics
Volume47
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Mar 2012

Keywords

  • Dielectric
  • EAP
  • Elastomer
  • Electroactive
  • Instability
  • Microactuator

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Applied Mathematics

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