Manipulating motions of elastomer films by electrostatically-controlled aperiodicity

We investigate the effect electrostatically-controlled aperiodicity has on the propagation of flexural waves in two-component elastomeric films. We first determine the static response of the film to a combination of an axial force and voltage over selected segments. Thus, in response to the accumulated charge, the elastomer confined geometrical and physical changes introduce aperiodicity in the film. We then develop the equation governing superposed flexural motions, accounting for the elastomer stiffening and static finite deformation. We adapt a stable matrix method based on this equation to compute the transmission characteristics of the film. Through numerical examples, we show that these characteristics significantly depend on which segments are actuated, i.e., on the resultant aperiodicity. These findings promise a new strategy to control elastic waves. (paper)