Experimental slowing of flexural waves in dielectric elastomer films by voltage

Shape and physical properties of dielectric elastomers are changeable by voltage. Theoretical works show that these changes can be harnessed to tune the propagation of superposed elastic waves. We experimentally demonstrate this concept by manipulating waves in a dielectric elastomer film, focusing on the flexural mode at low frequencies. To this end, we design an experimental apparatus to pre-stretch, actuate, excite waves at low frequencies in a VHB (TM) 4910 film, and measure the velocity of the fundamental flexural mode. Our results show that the excited wave velocity is slowed down by the applied voltage, and provide experimental proof of concept for the application of deformable dielectrics as tunable waveguides. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.