Analytical modeling of a segmented magneto-active elastomer unimorph actuator

Tan Pan, Rui Leng, Zoubeida Ounaies, Mary Frecker

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Magneto-active elastomers (MAE) are capable of achieving large deflections when actuated using an external magnetic field. Desired shape changes are achieved by judiciously designing a unimorph actuator comprised of an active MAE layer and a passive material substrate. In this paper, an analytical model is developed to predict the shape change of an MAE unimorph actuator that is segmented along its length. The shape change performance of a unimorph actuator consisting of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) embedded with barium hexaferrite (BHF) particles and a passive substrate of Scotch tape is investigated for different segmented geometric configurations. An Euler-Bernoulli model is developed to predict the free deflection and blocked force of the segmented unimorph given the geometric information, properties of the materials, and the external magnetic field strength. A numerical approach is also developed to account for consecutive segments and different conditions for each segment as the unimorph bends. The conditions include the spatial variation of the magnetic field and the dependence of actuation torque on the bending angle. The model is validated with experiments under the same conditions, and the outcomes show good agreement with the experimental results. The validated model is used in a parametric study to assess the effects of the geometric parameters, material properties, and the magnitude of the magnetic field on the shape change.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of ASME 2021 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems, SMASIS 2021
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
ISBN (Electronic)9780791885499
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
EventASME 2021 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems, SMASIS 2021 - Virtual, Online
Duration: Sep 14 2021Sep 15 2021

Publication series

NameProceedings of ASME 2021 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems, SMASIS 2021

Conference

ConferenceASME 2021 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems, SMASIS 2021
CityVirtual, Online
Period9/14/219/15/21

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Artificial Intelligence

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