Active-elastic bistable minimum energy structures

Follador, M.; Conn, A. T.; Mazzolai, B.; Rossiter, J.

Abstract

© 2014 AIP Publishing LLC. The design of structures that combine the principles of minimum energy and bistable mechanisms is presented. A minimum energy configuration is achieved by the interaction of one or more elastic elements and two strips of stretched elastomer, which also operate as dielectric actuators. The system has two equilibrium states, and the actuators are used to trigger the switch from one state to the other. An analytical model, based on the approach of energy minimization, was implemented to assist the design of the geometrical parameters. A prototype shows bistability and is able to switch equilibrium state varying its bending angle from -40° to 40°.

Citation

Follador, M., Conn, A. T., Mazzolai, B., & Rossiter, J. (2014). Active-elastic bistable minimum energy structures. Applied Physics Letters, 105(14), 141903. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4898142

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 3, 2014
• Publication Date: Oct 6, 2014
• Journal: Applied Physics Letters
• Print ISSN: 0003-6951
• Publisher: AIP Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 105
• Issue: 14
• Pages: 141903
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4898142
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/824126
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4898142