Design and testing of fiber-constrained electroactive polymer

Lee, Kun Hyuck

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/78694 Copy

Description

Title

Design and testing of fiber-constrained electroactive polymer

Author(s)

Lee, Kun Hyuck

Issue Date

2015-05-01

Department of Study

Mechanical Sci & Engineering

Discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• electroactive polymer
• dielectric elastomer
• electromechanical system
• thermodynamic
• micro-architectured electro-elasto-kinematic (MEEK)
• high-stiffness-micro-fiber (HSMF)
• prestretching
• contraction
• anisotropy
• actuation
• soft robotics
• biomimetic
• buckling
• Instability
• wrinkle
• compliant electrode
• fiber-constraint
• conductive wire
• image processing
• Fourier Transform
• Fourier Series
• fiber alignment
• conformation state
• electrostatic pressure
• dipole
• polarization

Abstract

Soft robotics take advantage of active materials to regenerate many complex motions, including low-force functions, such as camouflage, micro-grabbing, or agile locomotion of micro robot. For these applications, traditional actuators, like electric motors and combustion engines, are unnecessarily large and heavy. In contrast, electro-active polymers (EAP) such as electrostatically actuated dielectric elastomers (DE) are considered very suitable technologies for these applications. In particular, owing to their simplicity, high strain and energy densities, and low noise, DE’s are currently the most promising candidates for small scale biomimetic applications. In this study, new fiber-constrained DE designs are developed, in order to obtain controlled uniaxial actuation that suits soft robotics and small scale actuation. Also, micro-wrinkle instabilities that occur in fiber-constrained membranes are examined. The property of wrinkle defers by controlling the geometrical parameters and the amount of strain in a membrane. Therefore controlling the shape of wrinkle is applicable for micro-actuation. In addition, image analysis methodology is discussed and creative ways of analyzing the image data is established.

Graduation Semester

2015-5

Type of Resource

text

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/78694

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2015 Kun Hyuck Lee

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