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Electromechanical stability of a Mooney–Rivlin‐type dielectric elastomer with nonlinear variable permittivity
Author(s) -
Liu Yanju,
Liu Liwu,
Sun Shouhua,
Leng Jinsong
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.2786
Subject(s) - materials science , dielectric , elastomer , dielectric elastomers , permittivity , ogden , electric field , composite material , elastic energy , nonlinear system , thermodynamics , physics , optoelectronics , quantum mechanics
The electromechanical stability of a Mooney–Rivlin‐type dielectric elastomer undergoing large deformation with nonlinear permittivity is investigated. The stability is analyzed by applying a new kind of free energy model, which couples Ogden elastic strain energy and electric field energy density with nonlinear permittivity. Then, nominal electric field and nominal electric displacement of the dielectric elastomer are introduced. Based on this, the electromechanical stability of the Mooney–Rivlin‐type dielectric elastomer is analyzed by simplifying the Ogden elastic strain energy. The critical breakdown electric fields under the conditions of two stretching ratios and various material constant ratios k ( n = km , where m and n are material constants in the Ogden model, determined experimentally) are also obtained. According to the simulation results, for a larger dimensionless constant k of the dielectric material, the critical nominal electric field is higher, the corresponding dielectric elastomer or structure is more stable and the electromechanical stability of the dielectric elastomer is proved to be markedly enhanced by a pre‐stretching process. These results agree well with experimental data and can be used as guidance in the design and fabrication of dielectric elastomer actuators. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry