Abstract
The coupled electromechanical response of dielectrics is analyzed in terms of the local response and the distribution of its microstructural unit elements. A comparison between two variational statements for a continuous and a discrete systems results in an estimate for the macroscopic coupled electromechanical energy-density function. Next, a few types of unit elements are considered and the corresponding behaviors of dielectrics with a random distribution of these elements are calculated. Additionally, to highlight the possible effect of local constraints among the unit elements, a deterministic model for a network of polymer chains is proposed and its response to electric excitation is determined. The practically common case of a uniaxial stretch aligned with the electric field is examined in detail and the results are compared with widely accepted macroscopic models and available experimental results.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 48-59 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | European Journal of Mechanics, A/Solids |
| Volume | 48 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Jan 2014 |
Keywords
- Dielectric elastomers
- Multi-scale analysis
- Variational principles
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering
- General Materials Science
- General Physics and Astronomy