Mathematical and numerical modeling of Liquid Crystal elastomer phase transition and deformation

Mathematical and numerical modeling of Liquid Crystal elastomer phase transition and deformation Liquid crystal (in particular, nematic) elastomers consist of cross-linked flexible polymer chains with embedded stiff rods molecules that allow them to behave as a rubber and a liquid crystal. Nematic elastomers are characterized by a phase transition from isotropic to nematic past a temperature threshold. They behave as rubber at high temperature and show nematic behavior below the temperature threshold. Such transition is reversible. While in the nematic phase, the rod molecules are aligned along the direction of the ``nematic director''. This molecular rearrangement induces a stretch in the polymer chains and hence macroscopic spontaneous deformations. The coupling between nematic order parameter and deformation gives rise to many interesting phenomena.

Research on these materials is also stimulated by many interesting applications. In biological field, the ability to considerably change their length, make them very promising for artificial muscles actuators. Besides, their optic properties make them suitable, for example, as lenses for new imaging systems.

The aim of this project is to study mathematical models able to describe the peculiar behavior of nematic elastomers and to set-up a numerical framework to simulate such behavior.

Head of project: 

Dr. Mariarita de Luca, SISSA MathLab, mariarita.deluca (at) sissa.it