Huang, JiangshuiLi, TiefengFoo, Choon ChiangZhu, JianClarke, DavidSuo, Zhigang2012-11-082012Huang, Jiangshui, Tiefeng Li, Choon Chiang Foo, Jian Zhu, David R. Clarke, and Zhigang Suo. 2012. Giant, voltage-actuated deformation of a dielectric elastomer under dead load. Applied Physics Letters 100(4): 041911.0003-6951http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:9887630Far greater voltage-actuated deformation is achievable for a dielectric elastomer under equal-biaxial dead load than under rigid constraint usually employed. Areal strains of 488% are demonstrated. The dead load suppresses electric breakdown, enabling the elastomer to survive the snap-through electromechanical instability. The breakdown voltage is found to increase with the voltage ramp rate. A nonlinear model for viscoelastic dielectric elastomers is developed and shown to be consistent with the experimental observations.en-USdeformationselastomersJournal Article2012-11-0810.1063/1.3680591