The performance analysis of a new type DEAP vibration isolator

Dielectric electro-active polymer (DEAP) is a new kind of smart materials and has many advantages such as large deformation, fast response and so on. These features make dielectric elastomeric is a suitable material for actuators. In the article, a new type of DEAP vibration isolator is proposed, which utilizes the fiber stiffening DEAP membranes. The dynamic model of the DEAP isolator is developed by employing a nonequilibrium thermodynamic model. A set of harmonic vibration tests are conducted to identify the model parameters of DEAP isolator. The results show that the area of hysteresis loop increases with the increase of displacement amplitude, and the dynamic stiffness of DEAP isolator increases with the increase of excitation frequency. An additional stiffness component is introduced thereafter in the model in order to correct the stiffness coefficients based on the measured data. Based on the identified isolator model, a simulated study on semi-active vibration isolation is also carried out. The simulated results show that the effective frequency range of vibration isolation can be expanded in some extent under DC input voltage. It indicates the feasibility of semi-active vibration isolation with the present DEAP isolator.