Electrical modeling of dielectric elastomer stack transducers

Performance of dielectric elastomer transducers (DEST) depends on mechanical and electrical parameters. For designing DEST it is therefore necessary to know the influences of these parameters on the overall performance. We show an electrical equivalent circuit valid for a transducer consisting of multiple layers and derive the electrical parameters of the circuit depending on transducers geometry and surface resistivity of the electrodes. This allows describing the DESTs dynamic behavior as a function of fabrication (layout, sheet and interconnection resistance), material (breakdown strength, permittivity) and driving (voltage) parameters. Using this electrical model transfer function and cut-off frequency are calculated, describing the influence of transducer capacitance, resistance and driving frequency on the achievable actuation deflection. Furthermore non ideal boundary effects influencing the capacitance value of the transducer are investigated by an electrostatic simulation and limits for presuming a simple plate capacitor model for calculating the transducer capacitance are derived. Results provide the plate capacitor model is a valid assumption for typical transducer configurations but for certain aspect ratios of electrode dimensions to dielectric thickness -- arising e.g. in the application of tactile interfaces -- the influence of boundary effects is to be considered.