Isogeometric analysis of electroelastic thin shells based on subdivision surfaces
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This study proposes a computational framework to analyze the coupled electromechanical response of thin electroelastic shells under large deformations, targeting soft robotics applications. A Kirchhoff-Love shell formulation is enhanced to integrate voltage-driven thickness contraction and in-plane stretching effects, where the electric field is modeled implicitly via through-thickness voltage without treating electric potential as an independent variable. The geometry and displacement field are discretized using C$^1$ continuous Catmull-Clark subdivision bases, while electroelastic coupling is resolved through a simplified constitutive law linking thickness-direction voltage to in-plane actuation strains. To address nonlinearities from finite deformation and voltage-dependent material stiffening, an incremental loading scheme combines Newton-Raphson iterations with arc-length control, dynamically adjusting mechanical and electrical loads. Eigenvalue analysis of the mechanical tangent matrix identifies bifurcation points, enabling branch-switching during voltage-triggered snap-through instabilities. Key computational challenges, including path-following parameterization and convergence criteria for electromechanical coupling, are rigorously addressed. Results highlight the method’s capability to predict voltage-controlled bistable switching and dynamic electroelastic buckling, providing a computational tool for designing energy-efficient soft robotic systems.
