Media type: E-Article Title: Numerical modelling and optimization aspects of soft dielectric actuators Contributor: Klassen, Markus; Xu, Bai‐Xiang; Müller, Ralf Published: Wiley, 2011 Published in: PAMM, 11 (2011) 1, Seite 477-478 Language: English DOI: 10.1002/pamm.201110230 ISSN: 1617-7061 Keywords: General Medicine Origination: Footnote: Description: AbstractDielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) represent a new type of actuator made of electroactive polymers which can undergo large deformations. Some applications for DEAs are: Artificial muscles, haptic feedback, pumps, robotics, deformable surfaces in aerospace, etc. For this reason the numerical modelling and optimization of DEAs represent an active field of research which supports the designing process of these actuators.In this work the basic equations of the electro‐mechanic coupled problem are presented in a first step. Here the Neo‐Hooke and the Yeoh model have been chosen to model the behaviour of a nearly incompressible elastomer. To study optimization aspects, material inclusions in a sandwich type DEA structure have been taken into consideration. Ceramics whit high electric permittivity and air are taken into account to explore the effect of inclusions on the deformation. (© 2011 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) Access State: Open Access