Abstract: The actuator is capable of greatly deforming a flexible sheet member. The actuator comprises: a flexible sheet member being made of a polymer material; and a pair of electrodes being respectively provided on both faces of the sheet member, the electrodes being made of carbon nano fibers.

Abstract: A prismatic wood compression molding method capable of easily producing long-sized lumber usable as pillars or like by compression molding. The method is characterized by comparing the steps of: using a plurality of rigid plate-like bodies such as metal plates to compress an outer face of wood throughout length thereof to compression-mold it into prismatic wood which is polygonal, such as rectangular or hexagonal, in cross section; restraining the plate-like bodies by a restraining jig so as to hold flat surfaces of the prismatic wood in a state in which they are compressed by the plate-like bodies; and applying a heat treatment to the prismatic wood held in the compressed state by the plate-like bodies and the jig so as to permanently fix the shape of the prismatic wood.