Dynamic Behavior of PVC Gel Actuators: Nonlinear Effects of Viscoelasticity and Electromechanical Coupling

As an inherent property of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gel material, viscoelasticity is closely related to the deformation of the material, which will affect its dynamic behavior. However, the existing theoretical model does not consider the influence of time-varying damping on its nonlinear vibration, which leads to the unclear nonlinear dynamic behavior of the material under the dual influence of viscoelasticity and electromechanical parameters and limits the further application of the material. Therefore, in this study, the standard linear solid (SLS) model was used to describe the time-varying dynamic change of viscoelasticity of PVC gel, and the electromechanical coupling second-order nonlinear constitutive equation of PVC gel actuator was established by combining the Gent free energy theory model. The harmonic resonance, stability and periodicity of PVC gel actuator under different loading conditions were investigated by using dynamic analysis methods such as phase path, Poincaré map, bifurcation diagram, and Lyapunov exponent. Through the systematic research in this study, the deformation law of PVC gel with time-varying damping under different electromechanical parameters was revealed, and the parameter control strategy of deformation stability and chaos was obtained, which provided the design method and theoretical basis for the further application of the material.