Electrostrictive bending actuators: Modeling and experimental investigation

Electroactive polymers (EAPs) have become of great interest for energy conversion because of their flexibility, manufacturability and low production cost. Hence, such materials present promising application potentials in the fields of actuation (e.g., artificial muscles, micropumps, …). The purpose of this paper is to present the modeling of devices using EAPs in quasi-static flexural solicitations. Based on the mechanical and electromechanical analyses of a structure equipped with such materials, the actuation abilities of such systems will be assessed. In order to illustrate the proposed principles, the approach will be applied to two particular structures consisting in a cantilever beam and a clamped–clamped beam with the active material in the middle.

► Electrostrictive polymers are cheap, lightweight and can be obtained easily in various shapes.
► Bending actuators using such materials are investigated both theoretically and experimentally.
► Optimization issues are discussed.