Electroactive materials : from piezomotors to electroactive morphing

Electroactive materials concerns a wide variety of physical phenomena which plays today an important part in the research of novel electromechanical systems. The present article proposes a survey of the modern stakes of electrodynamics in this field, from physical processes to sophisticated electromechanical functions. The potential of the new technologies considered is evaluated through different examples of novel actuators which aim at meeting the increase of the performances or the expansion of required functionalities in the face of varied types of applications. Besides the development of new drives, recent investigations concerning the concept of electroactive morphing applied to air flow control are dealt with at the end of the article. The aim is first the quasi-static shape control of a large aircraft wing and second, the dynamic control of a turbulent boundary layer so as to reduce friction drag