Nonlinear characteristics of dielectic elastomers under electromechanical coupling loading

A membrane of a dielectric elastomer deforms subject to a voltage through the thickness. The voltage induced deformation is highly nonlinear and even non-monotonic, inducing the pull-in instability. A cylindrical elastomeric tube subject to an internal pressure exhibits quite similar instability behavior. We study the deformation behavior a dielectric elastomer tube subject to electromechanical coupling loading. Explicit expressions for the critical conditions of electro-mechanical bifurcationare derived. The post-bifurcation path and the steady state propagation is comprehensively investigated.