Theoretical Description and Fabrication of a New Dielectric Elastomer Actuator Showing Linear Contractions
نویسندگان
چکیده
Dielectric elastomers represent today excellent materials for the realisation of electric field driven polymer actuators capable of high performances. A new kind of actuator made of dielectric elastomers, able to show in principle electrically activated linear contractions, is here theoretically described. The device consists of an elastomeric hollow cylinder, having two helical electrodes integrated within its wall. Principle of operation, design features and fabrication skills concerning the realisation of the new device are presented, as well as very preliminary data on active contraction strains measured from the first rough prototypes.
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