Abstract
Continuum models describing ideal nematic solids are widely used in theoretical studies of liquid crystal elastomers. However, experiments on nematic elastomers show a type of anisotropic response that is not predicted by the ideal models. Therefore, their description requires an additional term coupling elastic and nematic responses, to account for aeolotropic effects. In order to better understand the observed elastic response of liquid crystal elastomers, we analyse theoretically and computationally different stretch and shear deformations. We then compare the elastic moduli in the infinitesimal elastic strain limit obtained from the molecular dynamics simulations with the ones derived theoretically, and show that they are better explained by including nematic order effects within the continuum framework.
Highlights
Liquid crystalline solids are responsive multifunctional materials that combine the flexibility of polymeric networks with the nematic order of liquid crystals [1,2]
The aim of this study is to develop an explicit approach for the derivation of elastic moduli that captures the aeolotropy of liquid crystalline elastomers
We studied theoretically and computationally the mechanical behaviour of nematic liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) under different stretch and shear deformations
Summary
Liquid crystalline solids are responsive multifunctional materials that combine the flexibility of polymeric networks with the nematic order of liquid crystals [1,2]. In [45], measurements of five independent elastic constants derived from three uniaxial tests, with the director parallel, perpendicular or at an angle of 45° relative to the loading direction, respectively, were obtained for a nematic monodomain treated as a classical transversely isotropic material. This choice is motivated by the multiplicative decomposition of the effective deformation into an elastic distortion, followed by a natural stress-free shape change [64,65,66,67].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
