A Numerical Approach Based on Finite Element Method for the Wrinkling Analysis of Dielectric Elastomer Membranes

Mao, Guoyong1; Hong, Wei2,3; Kaltenbrunner, Martin1,4; Qu, Shaoxing5

2021-10-01

10.1115/1.4051212

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MECHANICS-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME   影响因子和分区

0021-8936

1528-9036

Dielectric elastomer (DE) actuators are deformable capacitors capable of a muscle-like actuation when charged. When subjected to voltage, DE membranes coated with compliant electrodes may form wrinkles due to the Maxwell stress. Here, we develop a numerical approach based on the finite element method (FEM) to predict the morphology of wrinkled DE membranes mounted on a rigid frame. The approach includes two steps: (I) pre-buckling and (II) post-buckling. In step I, the first buckling mode of the DE membrane is investigated by substituting the Maxwell stress with thermal stress in the built-in function of the FEM platform simulia abaqus. In step II, we use this first buckling mode as an artificial geometric imperfection to conduct the post-buckling analysis. For this purpose, we develop an equivalent model to simulate the mechanical behavior of DEs. Based on our approach, the thickness distribution and the thinnest site of the wrinkled DE membranes subjected to voltage are investigated. The simulations reveal that the crests/troughs of the wrinkles are the thinnest sites around the center of the membrane and corroborate these findings experimentally. Finally, we successfully predict the wrinkles of DE membranes mounted on an isosceles right triangle frame with various sizes of wrinkles generated simultaneously. These results shed light on the fundamental understanding of wrinkled dielectric elastomers but may also trigger new applications such as programmable wrinkles for optical devices or their prevention in DE actuators.

wrinkle dielectric elastomer finite element method numerical simulation experiment computational mechanics constitutive modeling of materials elasticity structures

SCI ; EI

英语

其他

National Natural Science Foundation of China[11525210,91748209] ; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities[2020XZZX005-02] ; European Research Council Starting Grant "GEL-SYS"[757931]

Mechanics

Mechanics

WOS:000687600200005

ASME

20215111352910

ABAQUS ; Buckling ; Computational mechanics ; Dielectric materials ; Elastomers ; Membranes ; Numerical methods ; Plastics

Dielectric Materials:708.1 ; Computer Applications:723.5 ; Polymer Products:817.1 ; Elastomers:818.2 ; Mathematics:921 ; Numerical Methods:921.6 ; Mechanics:931.1 ; Materials Science:951

ENGINEERING

Web of Science

1.Johannes Kepler Univ Linz, Linz Inst Technol, Soft Mat Lab, Altenberger St 69, A-4040 Linz, Austria
2.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Mech & Aerosp Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, Peoples R China
3.Hokkaido Univ, Global Inst Collaborat Res & Educ, Global Stn Soft Matter, Sapporo, Hokkaido 0600808, Japan
4.Johannes Kepler Univ Linz, Inst Expt Phys, Div Soft Matter Phys, Altenberger St 69, A-4040 Linz, Austria
5.Zhejiang Univ, Dept Engn Mech, State Key Lab Fluid Power & Mechatron Syst, Key Lab Soft Machines & Smart Devices Zhejiang Pr, 38 Zheda Rd, Hangzhou 310027, Peoples R China

Mao, Guoyong,Hong, Wei,Kaltenbrunner, Martin,et al. A Numerical Approach Based on Finite Element Method for the Wrinkling Analysis of Dielectric Elastomer Membranes[J]. JOURNAL OF APPLIED MECHANICS-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME,2021,88(10).

Mao, Guoyong,Hong, Wei,Kaltenbrunner, Martin,&Qu, Shaoxing.(2021).A Numerical Approach Based on Finite Element Method for the Wrinkling Analysis of Dielectric Elastomer Membranes.JOURNAL OF APPLIED MECHANICS-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME,88(10).

Mao, Guoyong,et al."A Numerical Approach Based on Finite Element Method for the Wrinkling Analysis of Dielectric Elastomer Membranes".JOURNAL OF APPLIED MECHANICS-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME 88.10(2021).