Extreme deformations of magneto- and electro-active membranes: A framework to model instabilities due to large multi-physics loads in thin structures

When structures undergo large deformation, there is an abrupt change in their structural response at the instability (or bifurcation) point. Structural instability often leads to mechanical failure and hence has been traditionally avoided in engineering design based on materials such as concrete and metal. Soft elastomers, on the other hand, can undergo large reversible deformation without failure. The bifurcation or instability phenomenon in this case can be used to our advantage in the design of actuation and energy conversion mechanisms. Magneto-rheological elastomers (MREs) and electro-active polymers (EAPs) are new types of soft smart materials that can deform in the presence of electromagnetic fields and therefore devices made using them provide multi-control mechanisms. A key limiting factor in their industry adoption is a poor understanding of instability under extreme loads due to complex nonlinear multi-physics coupling.

In this project, we propose to develop an enhanced understanding of the instability phenomenon in thin electro-mechanical and magneto-mechanical structures and deliver a mathematical and computational framework to model this process. This will allow us to investigate and simulate extreme deformation in MRE and EAP membranes, thereby significantly improving the tools that inform engineering design of soft robotic actuators, sensors, deformable lenses, and wave energy generators.