Multi-trigger thermo-electro-mechanical soft actuators under large deformations

Yarali, E, Noroozi, R, Yousefi, A, Bodaghi, M ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0707-944X and Baghani, M, 2020. Multi-trigger thermo-electro-mechanical soft actuators under large deformations. Polymers, 12 (2): 489. ISSN 2073-4360

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Abstract

Dielectric actuators (DEAs), because of their exceptional properties, are well-suited for soft actuators (or robotics) applications. This article studies a multi-stimuli thermo-dielectric-based soft actuator under large bending conditions. In order to determine the stress components and induced moment (or stretches), a nominal Helmholtz free energy density function with two types of hyperelastic models are employed. Non-linear electro-elasticity theory is adopted to derive the governing equations of the actuator. Total deformation gradient tensor is multiplicatively decomposed into electro-mechanical and thermal parts. The problem is solved using the second-order Runge-Kutta method. Then, the numerical results under thermo-mechanical loadings are validated against the finite element method (FEM) outcomes by developing a user-defined subroutine, UHYPER in a commercial FEM software. The effect of electric field and thermal stimulus are investigated on the mean radius of curvature and stresses distribution of the actuator. Results reveal that in the presence of electric field, the required moment to actuate the actuator is smaller. Finally, due to simplicity and accuracy of the present boundary problem, the proposed thermally-electrically actuator is expected to be used in future studies and 4D printing of artificial thermo-dielectric-based beam muscles.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Polymers
Creators:	Yarali, E., Noroozi, R., Yousefi, A., Bodaghi, M. and Baghani, M.
Publisher:	MDPI
Date:	23 February 2020
Volume:	12
Number:	2
ISSN:	2073-4360
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.3390/polym12020489 DOI 1297762 Other
Rights:	© 2020 by the authors. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	26 Feb 2020 11:37
Last Modified:	17 Mar 2020 14:54
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/39294

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