Effect of Dynamic Soft Elasticity on Vibration of Embedded Nematic Elastomer Timoshenko Beams

Abstract

This paper addresses the transverse vibration of a nematic elastomer (NE) beam embedded in soft viscoelastic surroundings with the aim to clarify a new dissipation mechanism caused by dynamic soft elasticity of this soft material. Based on the viscoelasticity theory of NEs in low-frequency limit and the Timoshenko beam theory, the governing equation of motion is derived by using the Hamilton principle and energy method, and is solved by the complex modal analysis method. The dependence of vibration property on the intrinsic parameters of NEs (director rotation time, rubber relaxation time, anisotropic parameter) and foundation (spring, shear and damping constants) are discussed in detail. The results show that dynamic soft elasticity leads to anomalous anisotropy of energy transfer and attenuation. The relative stiffer foundation would restraint the rubber dissipation of viscoelastic beams, but has less influence on the director rotation dissipation, which is particular for NE beams. This study would provide a useful guidance in the dynamic design of NE apparatus embedded in soft viscous media.