Dielectric elastomer based prototype fiber actuators

Dielectric elastomer based prototype fiber actuators have been developed and evaluated. The work is motivated by the tremendous potential offered by the current multicomponent fiber forming technologies as a means to fabricate fiber actuators. To explore the potential, prototype fiber actuators have been fabricated using commercially available dielectric elastomer tubes and by applying appropriate compliant electrodes to inner cavity and outer walls of these tubes. The force and displacement generated by such actuators have been studied as a function of applied electric field under different prestrained conditions. In order to introduce anisotropy in the fiber behavior, two types of prestrains (uniaxial and uniform) were applied. Actuation strains of 7 and 18% were recorded for silicone tubes in the axial and radial directions, respectively. Polyurethane tubes produced significantly higher blocking force compared to silicone tubes. The results demonstrate significant influence of applied prestrain on actuation strains and blocking force measured under isometric condition. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.