Application of a dielectric electro-active polymer actuator for active vibration isolation

Sarban, Rahimullah, Jones, Richard W., Mace, Brian R. and Rustighi, Emiliano (2011) Application of a dielectric electro-active polymer actuator for active vibration isolation. EuroEAP 2011, Pisa, Italy. 07 - 08 Jun 2011.

Abstract

This paper describes the use of a tubular dielectric electro-active polymer (DEAP) actuator for active vibration isolation. The DEAP tubular push actuator developed by Danfoss PolyPower A/S has been used. First, the characteristics of the actuator are examined. It is seen that the actuator is inherently non-linear, involving an approximately quadratic relationship between excitation and extension. Next, it is seen that internal resonances in the actuator limit the bandwidth over which it can be used for active control (to 75 Hz or so). The potential for active vibration isolation is then explored. The dynamic performance is limited by the potential bandwidth, the inherent nonlinearity, the maximum force that can be generated and the maximum range of movement. Performance for tonal disturbances is investigated experimentally within an adaptive feedforward control scheme. Attenuation of 67dB of the excitation frequency is achieved but compensation is required to avoid increase in the higher harmonics introduced by the actuator nonlinearity. In an alternative approach adaptive control is applied not only at the harmonic of the disturbance but also at twice that frequency, to suppress the harmonic distortion introduced by the nonlinearity. In this case the first harmonic is reduced by 52dB and the second harmonic by 3dB. Isolation in response to a bandlimited random input is then demonstrated, with attenuation of 19dB being achieved over a frequency range from 2-8 Hz

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Contributors

Author: Brian R. Mace

Author: Emiliano Rustighi

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