Dynamic stability analysis of a soft viscoelastic dielectric elastomer

Abstract

Dielectric elastomers (DEs) exhibit pronounced electromechanical deformation under high-voltage excitation, a response actuation by their intrinsic hyperelastic properties. When exposed to alternating electric fields, DEs exhibit complex nonlinear vibrational dynamics, demonstrating their potential for dynamic electromechanical actuation and soft robotics applications. As is well known, the dynamic characteristics of vibrational systems, including dielectric elastomer systems, exhibit significant frequency-dependent behavior. In this study, an effective generalized rheological model is employed to characterize the electromechanical response behavior of dielectric elastomers. The dynamic stability evolution process is systematically investigated under alternating excitation voltages with varying frequencies. Based on current applications of dielectric elastomers, this study contributes an effective modeling approach for analyzing the dynamic behavior of DEs, providing valuable guidance for the design and practical implementation of dielectric elastomer-based soft actuators and robotic systems.