Systematic experimental characterization of dielectric elastomer membranes using a custom-built tensile test rig

Abstract

This work presents the conceptualization, fabrication, and performance of a dielectric elastomer membrane testing rig. The custom-built rig is designed to electromechanically characterize dielectric elastomer membranes by measuring physical quantities such as force, displacement, film thickness, voltage/current, capacitance, and resistance simultaneously. Due to the thin and very compliant nature of dielectric elastomer membranes, this new design seeks to minimize setup imperfections and human error by considering the specimen preparation and placement from the start. The test rig includes optical thickness sensors which provide the first known dielectric elastomer membrane thickness profile measurements of stretched and/or activated membranes. The operation of the test rig is demonstrated by testing pure shear silicone membrane specimens. Finally, this versatile programmable test rig results in a highly useful tool for further repeatable electromechanical characterization studies of dielectric elastomer membranes.