Soft dielectric elastomers with high relative permittivity, very low modulus and high electric breakdown strength have emerged as promising materials for various applications as sensors, actuators and in energy harvesting and soft robotics. We study the intricate deformation behaviour of a soft dielectric elastomer tube of finite length and closed ends, that carries a dead load, is internally pressurised by an injected fluid and has a high electric potential applied across its walls. As for soft tubes in the absence of a potential, this electro-hyperelastic problem involving very large deformations, exhibits a multitude of possibilities, including homogeneous deformation, inhomogeneous bifurcation, snap-through instabilities and post bifurcation behaviour in the form of propagation of axisymmetric bulges. We develop a coupled Finite Element procedure for the situation where the domains of the mechanical and electrostatic problems coincide. The procedure can handle volume flow rate controlled electro-elastic problems. We use it to study the many aspects of the deformation behaviour and limitations placed by competing failure mechanisms on practical utilisation of the large areal strains and axial actuations that can be produced. If electrical breakdown can be avoided by ingenious design of loading sequences, the large volume increase in the tube due to the triggering of instabilities can be harnessed and has far-reaching technological implications.

具有高相对介电常数，非常低的模量和高电击穿强度的软介电弹性体已成为有希望的材料，可用于各种应用，例如传感器，执行器以及能量收集和软机器人。我们研究了有限长度和封闭端部的软介电弹性体管的复杂变形行为，该管承受恒载，被注入的流体内部加压，并在其壁上施加高电势。对于没有电势的软管，这种涉及超大变形的电超弹性问题表现出多种可能性，包括均质变形，不均匀分叉，穿通不稳定性以及轴对称凸起传播形式的分叉后行为。 。我们针对机械和静电问题的域重合的情况开发了耦合有限元程序。该程序可以处理体积流率控制的电弹性问题。我们使用它来研究变形行为的许多方面以及竞争性破坏机制对实际使用的大面积应变和轴向驱动力产生的限制。如果可以通过巧妙地设计加载顺序来避免电击穿，则可以利用由于触发不稳定性而导致的管内大量体积增加，并具有深远的技术意义。我们使用它来研究变形行为的许多方面以及竞争性破坏机制对实际使用的大面积应变和轴向驱动力产生的限制。如果可以通过巧妙地设计加载顺序来避免电击穿，则可以利用由于触发不稳定性而导致的管内大量体积增加，并具有深远的技术意义。我们使用它来研究变形行为的许多方面以及竞争性破坏机制对实际使用的大面积应变和轴向驱动力产生的限制。如果可以通过巧妙地设计加载顺序来避免电击穿，则可以利用由于触发不稳定性而导致的管内大量体积增加，并具有深远的技术意义。