Open AccessViscoelastic constitutive models and their fractional representatives to capture the time-dependent response of DEAs on sinus excitation
Author(s) -
Timi Karner,
Janez Gotlih
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
smart materials and structures
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.898
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1361-665X
pISSN - 0964-1726
DOI - 10.1088/1361-665x/ac1305
Subject(s) - constitutive equation , fractional calculus , viscoelasticity , standard linear solid model , laplace transform , nonlinear system , work (physics) , excitation , deformation (meteorology) , mathematical analysis , mathematics , mechanics , control theory (sociology) , classical mechanics , physics , finite element method , computer science , thermodynamics , quantum mechanics , control (management) , artificial intelligence , meteorology
Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) are subjected to creep especially in the first few excitation cycles. This paper deals with viscoelastic constitutive models and their fractional representatives to capture time-dependent deformation of DEA on sinus excitation. The sine voltage signal with three different frequencies and the same amplitude was used for deformation of the DEA. Basic constitutive models and their fractional representations of Kelvin–Voigt, Zener, solid linear model (SLM), Burger model and Kelvin–Voigt–Maxwell model were taken into consideration for finding the optimal model describing the behavior of the DEA. The simplicity of forming governing equations of motion derived with the help of Laplace transformation for basic and fractional constitutive models is shown in the work. Electrical force was calculated with the help of Maxwell equation. Responses of constitutive models were calculated with the help of Matlab. Constitutive parameters were optimized with the help of direct search and multiple starting point search method in Matlab. Fractional SLM was found to be the most optimal for describing time-dependent deformation on sinus excitation signal for the DEA. This work can be the basis on which control algorithms can be simulated for control of the DEA or any similar soft actuator.