A bimorph pneumatic bending actuator by control of fiber braiding angle

作者：Wang B; McDaid A; Biglari Abhari M; Giffney T; Aw K^*

来源：Sensors and Actuators A: Physical , 2017, 257: 173-184.

DOI：10.1016/j.sna.2017.02.003

• Bimorph
• Pneumatic bending actuator
• Fiber braiding
• FEA modelling

Typical pneumatic actuators provide one directional linear motion, but in many applications bending motion is required. Achieving bending motion with a typical pneumatic actuator requires a complex mechanism to translate the linear motion into bending. Hence, a bending pneumatic actuator will be desirable. This paper presents a bending pneumatic actuator that can be mass-produced. This actuator was modelled by using finite element analysis over a range of parameters. Systematic experimentation was carried out to validate the FEA simulations. A pneumatic bending actuator of length 180-220 mm, inner diameter 7-11 mm, wall thickness 2-3.2 mm, is capable of generating blocking force up to 7.32 N and bending angle up to 224.3 degrees with an input pressure of 0.675 MPa and an operating switching frequency of 20 Hz with no more than 7% radial expansion for the samples under test. The low profile, light weight, compliant nature and robustness of the actuators developed in this work lead to a large variety of potential applications.

• 出版日期2017-4-15