Snap-through instability of a high arch of magneto elastomers with a giant magnetic actuation

In our previous work [Chen et al., Int. J. Solids Struct. 246–247, 111607 (2022)], we designed a flat arch structure for hard magnetic soft material. It used snap-through instability for remote actuation and large deformation in a small magnetic field range (25–170 Oe). The ratio of the magnetic-driven deflection to the arch length was about 0.05. To improve this ratio, we designed a high arch of magneto elastomers, which expanded the range of ratio from 0.05 to 0.5, increasing it by an order of magnitude. However, raising the arch height extended the driving range while unintentionally increasing the critical magnetic field for snap-through. To overcome this challenge, we reduced the bending stiffness of the arch-shaped structure, effectively lowering the critical magnetic field. Our goal is to optimize the structure of hard magnetic soft materials to achieve a broader driving range under quasi-static applied magnetic field conditions. This is accomplished by adjusting the arch height and structural stiffness to balance different performance requirements. Our research could have a significant impact on applications and devices that utilize magnetic materials.