Multilayered Structures for Electro Bonded Laminates

This paper reports on the investigation and optimization of the electric properties of a geometry based variable stiffness concept. The concept relies on the combination of electrostatic normal forces and friction between the layers of a multi-layer beam to develop structures, electro bonded laminates (EBL), with an actively tuneable bending stiffness. Previous studies have detailed the connection between the mechanical response of these system and the electrical properties of its polymer constitutive films. Particularly, they pointed out the need to improve both the dielectric and the insulating properties of these films in order to have an enhancement of the bending tunability range of the system. In this paper a multilayer polymer configuration is considered as a possible answer to this need and it is put forward together with the electric model and the relatively high frequency experimental evidence of the proposed solution.