A strategy to evaluate the properties of circular ring dielectric actuators

Dielectric elastomer actuator can be used to adjust the properties of many optical elements. For example, place a diffractive transmission grating on the center of a circular ring actuator. The deformation of the actuator under voltage can change the grating period. The circular ring actuator is an annular dielectric elastormer coated with soft electrodes sandwiched between an elastic circle and an elastic annulus. When subject to a voltage, the active dielectric region will expand and compress the central elastic circle as well as the outer elastic annulus. The compressive deformation of the central elastic circle changes the grating period. We study the properties of circular ring actuators based on the ideal dielectric model combined with the Arruda-Boyce hyperelastic constitutive law and obtain the relationship between the applied voltage and the grating period. The strategy presented here is generic and the results may contribute to the use of dielectric actuators in optical devices.