Soft actuators offer many benefits over conventional servomotors, including simplicity and scalability to the microscale. The goal was to produce a soft actuator material with an improved photothermal response by the addition of metal nanoparticles. The project consisted of fabrication and thermal and mechanical testing. An aluminum/silicone rubber nanocomposite was found to convert light into heat energy and contract under a pre-load. The computerized thermal model accurately predicted the experimental temperature measurements and the maximum temperature rise of 77 degrees C. The thermomechanical model was less accurate, with measured results attaining only half the strain predicted. Future research could consist of miniaturizing the material and integrating it with a mechanical system.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Dorfman, Daniel Arthur
• Yandian, Mark E

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-043015-124628

Advisor

• Onal, Cagdas
• Rao, Pratap M.
• Shivkumar, Satya

Year

• 2015

Date created

• 2015-04-30

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright