Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) belong to an emerging soft actuation technology that have advantages in large actuation strain. However, the existing single-layer planar DE actuators commonly need fairly high voltage to achieve good in-plane actuation capability. A multi-layers planar dielectric elastomer actuator (MPDEA) is proposed in this work to realize effective in-plane actuation under low voltage. To facilitate the studies on the effects of multi-layers planar configuration of actuator on control voltage, a base flexible thin-walled beam equipped with a MPDEA is investigated. The electromechanically coupling finite element model of composite beam structure is first established. The theoretical model of actuating force of MPDEA is obtained. The numerical and experimental studies on the in-plane actuation capabilities of MPDEAs with different layer number are then carried out through evaluating the electro-driven deformation of base flexible thin-walled beam. The results demonstrate that increasing the number of layers can improve significantly the in-plane driving capability of MPDEA. As a result, a four-layers MPDEA can reduce control voltage by 53.62% compared with a single-layer planar DEA to generate the same deformation at the tip of beam.

中文翻译：

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用于降低平面内驱动应用中控制电压的多层平面介电弹性体驱动器

介电弹性体致动器（DEA）属于新兴的软致动技术，在大致动应变方面具有优势。然而，现有的单层平面 DE 致动器通常需要相当高的电压才能实现良好的平面内致动能力。在这项工作中，提出了一种多层平面介电弹性体致动器（MPDEA），以实现低电压下的有效面内驱动。为了便于研究执行器的多层平面配置对控制电压的影响，研究了配备 MPDEA 的基础柔性薄壁梁。首次建立了组合梁结构的机电耦合有限元模型。得到了MPDEA作动力的理论模型。然后通过评估基础柔性薄壁梁的电驱动变形，对不同层数的MPDEA的面内驱动能力进行了数值和实验研究。结果表明，增加层数可以显着提高 MPDEA 的面内驱动能力。因此，与单层平面 DEA 相比，四层 MPDEA 可以将控制电压降低 53.62%，从而在梁尖端产生相同的变形。