Field-distribution in EAP-transducers with diagonal-edge contacts

Thorben Hoffstadt; Christian Graf; Jürgen Maas

doi:10.1117/12.2009694

10 April 2013 Field-distribution in EAP-transducers with diagonal-edge contacts

Thorben Hoffstadt, Christian Graf, Jürgen Maas

Proceedings Volume 8687, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2013; 86871N (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2009694
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2013, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Dielectric Electroactive Polymers belong to a new class of smart materials, whose functional principle is based on electrostatic forces. They can either be used as actuators to provide considerable stretch ratios or as generators to convert mechanical strain energy into electrical energy by use of an initial amount of energy. Since the polymer material and also the covering compliant electrodes show non-ideal electrical properties, like finite resistivity and conductivity respectively, design rules have to be derived, in order to optimize the transducer. The electrode conductivity in connection with the polymer resistivity causes a voltage drop along the electrode surface, resulting in a reduced actuation strain or energy conversion. To minimize its parasitic effects, the influence of this effect is studied by the field-distribution based on a model obtained with the equivalent network method. It is shown that the proposed model provides accurate results that can be used to study the effect of contacting electrodes with diagonal-edge contacts in combination with alternating contacts in between.

Citation Download Citation

Thorben Hoffstadt, Christian Graf, and Jürgen Maas "Field-distribution in EAP-transducers with diagonal-edge contacts", Proc. SPIE 8687, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2013, 86871N (10 April 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2009694

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