Design and Analysis of Bistable Dielectric Elastomer Actuator with Buckling Beam

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) is an emerging soft actuator with attributes of flexibility, large strain, and high energy density. Bistable mechanisms have two force-free stable equilibrium positions in their range of motion, which can hold for a long time without energy consumption. In the present work, a design of bistable system is proposed, consisting of a cross-like shape buckling beam and two conical dielectric elastomer actuators. Analytical model has been developed to analyze the electromechanical coupling behavior of dielectric elastomer and the force-displacement relationship of the cross-like shape buckling beam. The working principle of the bistable conical DEAs is explained in terms of force equilibrium method and internal energy of the system. A bistable dielectric elastomer actuator with a switching force of 0.05 N and a stroke of 5.65 mm is developed to validate the analytical model of the conical DEAs, pre-compressed bistable cross-like beam, and the design.