Repository logo

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
  1. Home
  2. Academic and Research Output
  3. Journal articles
  4. Uni-axial reinforced dielectric elastomer actuators with embedded 3D printed fibers
 
research article

Uni-axial reinforced dielectric elastomer actuators with embedded 3D printed fibers

Konstantinidi, Stefania Maria Aliki  
•
Martinez, Thomas Guillaume  
•
Tandon, Biranche  
Show more
December 1, 2023
Smart Materials And Structures

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) can be described as compliant capacitors formed by a dielectric elastomer film sandwiched between two electrodes. An applied voltage results in a compressive Maxwell stress, a thickness reduction and thus an expansion in the other dimensions. In order to favor large uni-axial deformations, it is predicted that DEAs ought to be constrained in the other direction. This can be achieved by reinforcing the DEA with unidirectional fibers. In this paper, the behavior of uni-axial fiber-reinforced DEAs is established and the proposed model innovates by taking into consideration the fiber properties such as their Young's modulus and dimensions, and is characterized by transversely isotropic models. A novel fabrication process is then presented for reinforced DEAs by using 3D printed fibers with four different materials, namely Nylon, PETG, ABS and PLA, and different coverages of fibers are considered. Fiber reinforcement is shown to increase uni-axial strain up to 75% in the manufactured DEAs when compared to traditional DEAs. This behavior corresponds to the one predicted by the proposed model.

  • Files
  • Details
  • Metrics
Type
research article
DOI
10.1088/1361-665X/ad0447
Web of Science ID

WOS:001093136800001

Author(s)
Konstantinidi, Stefania Maria Aliki  
Martinez, Thomas Guillaume  
Tandon, Biranche  
Civet, Yoan René Cyrille  
Perriard, Yves  
Date Issued

2023-12-01

Published in
Smart Materials And Structures
Volume

32

Issue

12

Article Number

125011

Subjects

Technology

•

Deas

•

Fiber Reinforcement

•

Soft Actuators

•

Smart Materials

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
LAI  
CAM  
FunderGrant Number

This project is graciously supported by the Werner Siemens-Stiftung. The authors would also like to thank Taavet Kangur for his precious insights and help related to the 3D printing processes.

Werner Siemens-Stiftung

Available on Infoscience
February 19, 2024
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/204107
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
  • Contact
  • infoscience@epfl.ch

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on X
  • Follow us on Youtube
AccessibilityLegal noticePrivacy policyCookie settingsEnd User AgreementGet helpFeedback

Infoscience is a service managed and provided by the Library and IT Services of EPFL. © EPFL, tous droits réservés