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Published on: January 22, 2014
Dynamic pattern of wrinkles in a dielectric elastomer
Hareesh Godaba1, Zhi-Qian Zhang2, Ujjaval Gupta1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576. mpezhuj@nus.edu.sg.
Soft Matter
|March 31, 2017
Summary
Dielectric elastomer membranes exhibit dynamic wrinkling during electromechanical phase transitions. Radial prestretch influences this behavior, enabling applications in microfluidics and stretchable electronics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Soft Matter Physics
- Mechanics of Materials
Background:
- Dielectric elastomers are smart materials that deform under electric fields.
- Electromechanical phase transitions can induce pattern formation, such as wrinkling.
- Understanding these transitions is key for developing advanced soft electronic devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamic wrinkling patterns in circular dielectric elastomer membranes during electromechanical phase transitions.
- To analyze the influence of radial prestretch on the nature of the phase transition and wrinkle dynamics.
- To develop a theoretical framework and computational model to explain the observed phenomena.
Main Methods:
- Experimental observation of electromechanical phase transitions in circular dielectric elastomer membranes.
- Systematic variation of radial prestretch to study its effect on wrinkling.
- Development of an analytical model to describe the phase transition and wrinkle formation.
- Finite element simulations to predict wrinkle morphology and coexistence of states.
Main Results:
- Observed dynamic patterns of wrinkles where flat and wrinkled regions interchange during phase transition.
- Demonstrated that low radial prestretch leads to dynamic wrinkling related to snap-through instability, while high prestretch results in continuous transition.
- Identified a novel electromechanical behavior involving transitions between different wrinkled states with varying wavelengths.
- Analytical model and finite element simulations showed qualitative agreement with experimental findings.
Conclusions:
- Radial prestretch is a critical parameter controlling the electromechanical phase transition behavior and wrinkling dynamics in dielectric elastomers.
- The study provides a mechanistic understanding of dynamic wrinkle patterns, including snap-through instability and transitions between wrinkled states.
- Findings suggest potential applications in designing tunable surface topographies for microfluidics and stretchable electronics.
