Manufacturing and experimental characterization of copper-wound super-coiled polymer actuators

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Publication Type thesis
School or College College of Engineering
Department Mechanical Engineering
Author Padgett, Matthew Ernest
Title Manufacturing and experimental characterization of copper-wound super-coiled polymer actuators
Date 2019
Description Super-coiled polymer artificial muscles (SCPs) are a new type of thermally activated linear actuator that exhibit high strain, low hysteresis, and a linear temperaturestrain relationship. They are manufactured by twisting polymer monofilaments, like Nylon 6,6 fishing line, until a tight helical coil is formed. Recent advancements involve manufacturing SCPs with a copper wire, which can be used for Joule-heated actuation and feedback control. Current manufacturing methods of copper-wound SCPs cannot control each variable parameter. Furthermore, the effects of varying the manufacturing parameters remain unexplored. The variable manufacturing parameters are polymer diameter and length, coiling pressure, copper diameter, copper winding pitch, and copper-polymer diameter ratio. The first objective of this thesis was to design and implement an apparatus to achieve a comprehensive manufacturing process for copper-wound SCPs. The effects of each manufacturing parameter were explored by manufacturing and characterizing copper-wound SCPs using different combinations of parameter values. It was found that the physical characteristics of the copper-wound SCP could be determined by carefully choosing the copper winding pitch, copper-polymer diameter ratio, and coiling pressure. Furthermore, the upper and lower bounds of each parameter were found to avoid actuator damage during manufacturing. An experimental characterization of copper-wound SCPs was done in order to iv optimize strain, contraction time, and work, and find the effects of actuator scaling. The effects of the physical characteristics of the actuators were found on work and strain. Additionally, it was found that maximum strain and work result from a specific actuation load and are determined by the physical characteristics of the copper-wound SCP. It was found that actuation time is affected by both the copper winding pitch and the input voltage to the actuator; decreasing the pitch and increasing the voltage resulted in faster actuation. Finally, increasing actuator scale also increased strain and work. For Heidi
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Dissertation Name Master of Science
Language eng
Rights Management (c) Matthew Ernest Padgett
Format Medium application/pdf
ARK ark:/87278/s6g4ge79
Setname ir_etd
ID 1733737
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6g4ge79
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