Modelling and optimisation of Electro-Active Polymer (EAP) devices
File(s)
Author(s)
Rosenblatt-Weinberg, Florence
Type
Thesis
Abstract
The control of boundary layers either for skin-friction reduction or for
fight control can be achieved by their manipulation using deformable surfaces. In the case of the
former, it is known that the manipulation of coherent structures in the turbulent
boundary layer can lead to significant drag reductions. However, the challenge is to find actuators and sensors that are functional at these spatial scales (10 micron to 0.1
mm) and the associated temporal scale (100 kHz). Electro-Active Polymers (EAPs)
provide excellent performance, are light weight, flexible, and low cost. Therefore
EAPs, and in particular Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEAs), provide many potential
applications as micro-actuators and micro-sensors.
Modelling DEA devices is a cost-effective way of providing a better understanding
of the devices and optimising their designs. Acquiring a model for the EAP material
itself is the first essential step in DEA modelling. A modelling technique taking
into account the material non-linearities and its behaviour at large deformations
(`hyperelasticity') is presented in the third chapter of this thesis. The main challenge
in modelling DEA devices is the modelling of their electro-mechanical coupling.
Commercially available electro-mechanical modelling does not apply to non-linear
materials such as EAPs. The ANSYS Finite Element (FE) software is the tool used
in this work to develop a novel model presented in the fourth chapter. Various
means of optimising the design of DEA devices are suggested in the sixth chapter
using the developed DEA model. A novel design of an EAP-based pressure sensor
is suggested in the seventh chapter; FE modelling is used to study the abilities and
performance of such a device. To complete the model, its time-dependent properties are examined by a modal analysis examined in an eighth chapter. The thesis is completed by examining the potential for DEA in providing a `smart' surface for distributed aerodynamic control.
fight control can be achieved by their manipulation using deformable surfaces. In the case of the
former, it is known that the manipulation of coherent structures in the turbulent
boundary layer can lead to significant drag reductions. However, the challenge is to find actuators and sensors that are functional at these spatial scales (10 micron to 0.1
mm) and the associated temporal scale (100 kHz). Electro-Active Polymers (EAPs)
provide excellent performance, are light weight, flexible, and low cost. Therefore
EAPs, and in particular Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEAs), provide many potential
applications as micro-actuators and micro-sensors.
Modelling DEA devices is a cost-effective way of providing a better understanding
of the devices and optimising their designs. Acquiring a model for the EAP material
itself is the first essential step in DEA modelling. A modelling technique taking
into account the material non-linearities and its behaviour at large deformations
(`hyperelasticity') is presented in the third chapter of this thesis. The main challenge
in modelling DEA devices is the modelling of their electro-mechanical coupling.
Commercially available electro-mechanical modelling does not apply to non-linear
materials such as EAPs. The ANSYS Finite Element (FE) software is the tool used
in this work to develop a novel model presented in the fourth chapter. Various
means of optimising the design of DEA devices are suggested in the sixth chapter
using the developed DEA model. A novel design of an EAP-based pressure sensor
is suggested in the seventh chapter; FE modelling is used to study the abilities and
performance of such a device. To complete the model, its time-dependent properties are examined by a modal analysis examined in an eighth chapter. The thesis is completed by examining the potential for DEA in providing a `smart' surface for distributed aerodynamic control.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2013-05
Date Awarded
2013-11
Copyright Statement
Attribution NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence (CC BY-ND)
Advisor
Morrison, Jonathan
Iannucci, Lorenzo
Sponsor
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Grant Number
EP/C535847
Publisher Department
Aeronautics
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)