Electric field induced deformation in soft dielectric elastomer electroactive polymer

Abstract

Subjected to a high electric field, the dielectric deforms. If the dielectric is soft, the voltage induced deformation is large. The deformation is determined by the breakdown voltage together with electromechanical instability and snap-through instability. Based on the theoretical research proposed by Suo and Li, taking the dielectric elastomer soft material research object, we introduce two kinds of material limits: strain-stiffening, polarization saturation, analyze the effect of material limits on voltage induced deformation. For a specific soft dielectric material under certain pre-stretch, the theoretical maximum electrical actuation deformation can be determined.