Analytic Sensitivity Analysis for Shape Optimization

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Neck development in metal/elastomer bilayers under dynamic stretchings

Dynamic stretching of bilayer plates comprised of an elastomer layer bonded to a metal layer is studied with emphasis on neck development under plane strain. Neck retardation and multiple necks in the metal layer are promoted by the elastomer layer under quasi-static conditions and also by inertia in the all-metal layer under dynamic stretching. The present study explores the interaction of these two effects under the assumption that ductility is unlimited. The study reveals the roles of the elastomer modulus, the metal strength and the rate of stretching in giving rise to necking retardation.     

Effects of Mean pressure on the behavior of a filled elastomer

The rheological behavior of an elastomer composed of a polyurethane rubber filled with granular potassium chloride is studied on the basis of a series of compression tests with superimposed hydrostatic pressure. It is suggested that behavior may be approximated by a linear anelastic response for relatively small strains until a marked change in structure occurs, and that further deformation involves shear-dependent dilatation which is strongly influenced by mean pressure. Theories are suggested which describe the experimentally observed behavior.     

Modeling viscoelastic dielectrics

Dielectric elastomers, as an important category of electroactive polymers, are known to have viscoelastic properties that strongly affect their dynamic performance and limit their applications. Very few models accounting for the effects of both electrostatics and viscoelasticity exist in the literature, and even fewer are capable of making reliable predictions under general loads and constraints. Based on the principles of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, this paper develops a field theory that fully couples the large inelastic deformations and electric fields in deformable dielectrics. Our theory recovers existing models of elastic dielectrics in the equilibrium limit. The mechanism of instantaneous instability, which corresponds to the pull-in instability often observed on dielectric elastomers, is studied in a general non-equilibrium state. The current theoretical framework is able to adopt most finite-deformation constitutive relations and evolution laws of viscoelastic solids. As an example, a specific material model is selected and applied to the uniform deformation of a dielectric elastomer. This model predicts the stability criteria of viscoelastic dielectrics and its dependence on loading rate, pre-stress, and relaxation. The dynamic response, as well as the hysteresis behavior of a viscoelastic dielectric elastomer under cyclic electric fields, is also studied.     

Effect of interfacial stiffness on the stretchability of metal/elastomer bilayers under in-plane biaxial tension

Flexible electronic devices are often subjected to large and repeated deformation, so that their functional components such as metal interconnects need to sustain strains up to tens of percent, which is far beyond the intrinsic deformability of metal materials(～1%). To meet the stringent requirements of flexible electronics, metal/elastomer bilayers, a stretchable structure that consists of a metal film adhered to a stretchable elastomer substrate, have been developed to improve the stretch capability of metal interconnects. Previous studies have predicted that the metal/elastomer bilayers are much more stretchable than freestanding metal films. However, these investigations usually assume perfect bonding between the metal and elastomer layers. In this work, the effect of the metal/elastomer interface with a finite interfacial stiffness on the stretchability of bilayer structures is analyzed. The results show that the assumption of perfect interface(with infinite interfacial stiffness) may lead to an overestimation of the stretchability of bilayer structures. It is also demonstrated that increased adhesion between the metal and elastomer layers can enhance the stretchability of the metal layer.     

Dynamic Analysis of the Non-Linear Behavior of a Composite Sandwich Beam with a Magnetorheological Elastomer Core

This work deals with the active control of the vibrations of mechanical structures incorporating magnetorheological elastomer. The damping coefficient and shear modulus of the elastomer increase when exposed to a magnetic field. Compared with the vibration control where the elastomer is permanently exposed to a magnetic field, the control of this process through time reduces vibrations more effectively. The experimental study for the vibrations of a sandwich beam filled with an elastomer is conducted, followed by a numerical study using the Abaqus code.The vibration damping is found to be dependent on the loading rate of micro-size ferromagnetic particles in the elastomer.     

光敏液晶高弹体梁光致弯曲的特性研究

光敏液晶高弹体是一类新型智能材料,它兼有液晶和橡胶的特性,可以同时由光、热实现驱动,具有广阔的应用前景.本文着重研究了光敏液晶高弹体梁的光致弯曲特性,根据该材料的一维线性化本构关系,在小变形假设下,用简单梁理论得到了光致弯曲模型.将光照的效应等价为一等效力矩,分析了各种参数对其的影响规律,得到了自由梁弯曲曲率和超静定梁约束反力的解析表达式,并计算了梁内应力分布及中性面的个数.结果表明,各种参量对弯曲的影响相互耦合,显现出非线性性;液晶高弹体光致弯曲存在两个或三个中性面,应力分布与通常的梁弯曲有很大不同.     

Mullins effect in elastomers filled with particles aligned by a magnetic field

Magnetorheological elastomers (MRE) are particulate composite materials, whose fillers are structured by a magnetic field during curing. These particles are brought in quasi-contact by the field, in a chain-like unidirectional structure. Due to this organization the local stresses between the particles is high and debonding between particles and elastomer occur at low strain. We have experimentally studied and analytically modeled the progressive breaking of the polymer-to-particle bonds. The two cases of strong and weak bonds between elastomers and particles have been studied. The analytical model correctly reproduces the stress strain curve in the presence of a debonding process although overestimating the size of the debonding cavity which is obtained by comparison between experiments and FEM simulations. The extension of the model to a chain of spheres allows to well explain the Mullins effect on MRE. Furthermore it is shown that the quality of the bonds between the particles and the elastomer does not influence the change of stiffness brought by the application of a magnetic field.     

The Rayleigh–Lamb wave propagation in dielectric elastomer layers subjected to large deformations

The propagation of waves in soft dielectric elastomer layers is investigated. To this end incremental motions superimposed on homogeneous finite deformations induced by bias electric fields and pre-stretch are determined. First we examine the case of mechanically traction free layer, which is an extension of the Rayleigh–Lamb problem in the purely elastic case. Two other loading configurations are accounted for too. Subsequently, numerical examples for the dispersion relations are evaluated for a dielectric solid governed by an augmented neo-Hookean strain energy. It is found that the phase speeds and frequencies strongly depend on the electric excitation and pre-stretch. These findings lend themselves at the possibility of controlling the propagation velocity as well as filtering particular frequencies with suitable choices of the electric bias field.     

The Stability of Laminated Elastomer Coatings Under Surface Loading

The stability of laminated elastomer coatings at normal and high temperatures is considered in a three-dimensional formulation. The problem is formulated and the basic characteristic equations are derived. Graphs of the physicomechanical parameters of some elastomers against temperature are experimentally obtained. Specific examples for a three-layer coating are considered     

Relationships of the Timoshenko-type theory of thin shells with arbitrary displacements and strains

A new modified version of the Timoshenko theory of thin shells is proposed to describe the process of deformation of thin shells with arbitrary displacements and strains. The new version is based on introducing an unknown function in the form of a rotation vector whose components in the basis fitted to the deformed mid-surface of the shell are the components of the transverse shear vector and the extensibility in the transverse direction according to Chernykh. For the case with the shell mid-surface fitted to an arbitrary non-orthogonal system of curvilinear coordinates, relationships based on the use of true stresses and true strains in accordance with Novozhilov are obtained for internal forces and moments. Based on these relationships, a problem of static instability of an isotropic spherical shell experiencing internal pressure is solved. The shell is considered to be made either of a linear elastic material or of an elastomer (rubber), which is described by Chernykh’s relationships.     

丙烯酸弹性体的率相关分数阶黏弹性模型研究

丙烯酸弹性体VHB 4910作为一种重要的介电弹性体,在软体机器人、致动器、俘能器和智能隔振器等领域有很好的应用前景.但材料的非线性黏弹性对其力学行为有显著影响.近来分数阶模型在复杂材料的建模中取得了成功.本文基于分数阶有限变形Kelvin-Voigt流变学模型建立弹性体的三维张量本构,并进一步推导单向拉伸情况下的本构...     

Nonlinear deformation of elastomeric foams

The nonlinear deformation of a porous foam-type elastomeric material is studied, both theoretically and experimentally. The elastomer is modeled by the neo-Hookean material. The one-dimensional compressive behavior of the foam is analysed by using certain kinematic assumptions. The stress required to compress the foam is predicted by the model in terms of the porosity of the foam and the single constant in the neo-Hookean stress-strain form. A particular silicone foam is used as a test of the theory. The neo-Hookean constant is evaluated from a test of the homogeneous elastomer. Hence the behavior of the corresponding foam is predicted theoretically and compared with experimental results. The general results are applicable to closed-cells foams of intermediate density.     

Mechanical response and heat buildup in repetitively impacted elastomers

Experimental and analytical investigations were made to find the rebound characteristics and temperature rise in elastomer slabs subjected to repetitive impact. For its mechanical response, the elastomer was modeled as a linearly viscoelastic material, and its frequency and temperature dependent moduli were determined by Rheo-vibron tests. The experimental traces of impact force vs. time were studied in relation to various input parameters (e.g., impact velocity and slab thickness). An iterative method was devised to calculate the pulse from the input parameters enabling the analyst to estimate the peak force or duration of impacts occurring in a specific damper. As opposed to single (isolated) impacts, the repetitive impact process is conducive to temperature rise in the elastomer slabs resulting in a steady state temperature distribution. Under various input parameters, the temperature on the surface and inside the rubber was measured in the steady state. Both a simplified and a pulsed-heat-generative mathematical model was used to analytically estimate these temperatures.     

Deformability of thin metal films on elastomer substrates

Recent applications in flexible electronics require that thin metal films grown on elastomer substrates be deformable. However, how such laminates deform is poorly understood. While a freestanding metal film subject to tension will rupture at a small strain by undergoing a necking instability, we anticipate that a substrate will retard this instability to an extent that depends on the relative stiffness and thickness of the film and the substrate. Using a combination of a bifurcation analysis and finite element simulations, we identify three modes of tensile deformation. On a compliant elastomer, a metal film forms a neck and ruptures at a small strain close to that of a freestanding film. On a stiff elastomer, the metal film deforms uniformly to large strains. On an elastomer of intermediate compliance, the metal film forms multiple necks, deforms much beyond the initial bifurcation, and ruptures at a large strain. Our theoretical predictions call for new experiments.     

粗糙薄层弹性体接触刚度分析

薄层弹性体功能结构表面在工程领域有着广泛的应用前景,薄层弹性体的接触特性分析对功能结构表面设计与应用非常重要.采用随机粗糙表面模拟生成技术和有限元分析技术建立了粗糙薄层弹性体表面的接触刚度确定性分析模型,研究了薄层弹性体的接触特性,对基于半数值确定性分析方法的粗糙层-基体层串联模型用于粗糙薄层弹性体接触刚度计算的适用性进行了讨论,进一步分析了粗糙薄层弹性体串联模型接触刚度的误差来源.研究结果表明:当薄层弹性体的基体层厚度小于10倍表面均方根粗糙度时,由传统粗糙层-基体层串联模型分析获得的粗糙薄层弹性体刚度误差将超过15%,误差主要来源于粗糙峰的大变形和基体层的局部变形不均匀的共同作用.     

Disclinations in a homogenously deformed nematic elastomer

We consider a nematic elastomer which has been cross-linked in an isotropic state. As an application, we consider the time-independent, isochoric, homogeneous deformation of a right circular cylinder wherein each circular cross section of the specimen is deformed into an ellipse. We explore the possibility of the existence of disclinations when the molecular conformation is uniaxial. Numerical solution of the governing boundary-value problem indicates the presence of an isotropic core (the disclination core) of material surrounding the cylinder axis in which the polymeric chains are shaped as spherical coils. The isotropic core is bounded by a narrow transition layer across which the molecular conformation changes from spherical to uniaxial. The material thereby becomes anisotropic away from the disclination. The anisotropic regions show a markedly different distribution for the free energy. This distribution of energy determines the radius of the core to be on the order of 10⁻² μm. This work is a first step toward gaining an understanding of the existence of defective states in homogenous deformed nematic elastomers.     

Pressure distribution in an elastomer confined by a long thin-walled flexible hollow cylinder under the assumption of a hydrostatic stress state

The stress distribution in a pressurized elastomer confined by a hollow cylinder is of interest in various applications of material testing and manufacturing. A relatively accurate closed form solution for the pressure distribution inside an elastomer confined by a rigid hollow cylinder was presented by Yu et al. (2001). But in many practical applications the assumption of a rigid hollow cylinder is not appropriate, because the cylinder deformations have a significant influence on the stresses inside the elastomer. Thus in this paper a solution for an elastomer confined by a deformable hollow cylinder is derived. Both axial and radial deformations of the hollow cylinder are taken into account, while the bending stiffness of the cylinder wall is neglected, i.e. the cylinder wall is treated according to the membrane theory. The accuracy of the proposed closed form solution is verified by a parametric finite element simulation.     

Electric field-induced surface transformations and experimental dynamic characteristics of dielectric elastomer membranes

Acute and tunable surface transformations of a monolithic structure by application of an electric field have immediate significance for adaptive structures, morphing concepts and optical applications. Dielectric elastomer (DE) membranes are electric field-responsive materials typically employed as large strain electrostatic actuators. In this paper, it is demonstrated that an electric field will generate several symmetric surface shapes analogous to the mode shapes in the classical drumhead or stretched membrane problem. In a previous experimental study, a single surface transformation creating ripples or waves on an initially smooth surface was observed for an electrically excited DE membrane. The unexpected result led to the development of an experimental setup that would facilitate extensive characterization of the dynamic surface transformations of dielectric elastomer membranes. The new results clearly show that the electric field can be used to tune the patterns of the DE surface. Furthermore, the membrane will go through resonance when a periodic electric field is applied if the system conditions are favorable, which has not been observed before now. This presents a unique opportunity to increase the output displacement of DE membranes without electrically overloading the membrane. The experiments show that increasing the size of the chamber onto which the membrane is clamped will increase the peak deformation as well as cause the membrane's resonance peaks to shift and change in number. For DE membranes driven at 1.5 kV, at the smallest chamber volume, the maximum actuation displacement is 81 μm; while at the largest chamber volume, the maximum actuation displacement is 1431 μm. This corresponds to a 1767% increase in maximum pole displacement. The dependence on chamber volume suggests that under dynamic conditions a systems level analysis is needed for DE actuators. The effect of voltage offset as a means of modulating the dynamic deformation response is also reported in this study.