A computational model of hydrostatically coupled dielectric elastomer (HCDE) actuators
Abstract:A hydrostatically coupled dielectric elastomer (HCDE) actuator consists of two membranes of a dielectric elastomer, clamped with rigid circular rings. Confined between the membranes is a fixed volume of a fluid, which couples the movements of the two membranes when a voltage or a force is applied. This paper presents a computational model of the actuator, assuming that the membranes are neo-Hookean, capable of large and axisymmetric deformation. The voltage-induced deformation is described by the model of ideal dielectric elastomer. The forc