Mechanic and electromechanic effects in biaxially stretched liquid crystal elastomers

The effect of combined electromechanic force fields in nematic side chain liquid crystal elastomers will be analyzed. A biaxially stretched plate in the x- and y-directions under an electric field applied in the perpendicular direction to the plate will be considered. A neo-Hookean model is chosen, which implies Gaussian behaviour. Results are obtained for both a soft and semisoft case showing the effect of the electric field on the rotation of the director and the free energy density function.Díaz Calleja, R.; Llovera Segovia, P.; Riande, E.; Quijano Lopez, A. (2013). Mechanic and electromechanic effects in biaxially stretched liquid crystal elastomers. Applied Physics Letters. 102(5):1-4. doi:10.1063/1.4790154S14102