Modelisation of fiber reinforced DEAs

The aim of this "Face Reconstruction" project is to enable people with paralysis in one half of their face to recover facial expressions. To do this, we’ll replace the paralyzed muscle with an DEA which we’ll connect to the nerve on the other side of the face, to create expressions through 2 symmetry. The problem with connecting the DEA to the muscle is that they work in reverse to a muscle. When there’s electrical tension on the nerve, the muscle contracts, while the DEA relaxes. To be able to connect the DEA, you need to reverse its function. In the pursuit of our objective, numerous strategies can be considered, one of which involves employing a differential connection. By implementing this approach, the electrodes in close proximity create space for the DEA to extend along the z-axis, thereby facilitating contraction along the x-axis. However, our chosen strategy deviates from the aforementioned approach. Our goal is to enhance the polymer’s structural integrity by incorporating fibers, thereby modifying its stiffness in a specific direction. By promoting expansion in one direction, we can subsequently achieve contraction in the opposite direction.