SGER: Proposal forModeling the Dynamics of Shape Change in Liquid Crystal Elastomer Systems

SGER：液晶弹性体系统形状变化动力学建模提案

• 批准号: 0440299
• 负责人: Michael Shelley
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: New York University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-09-01 至 2007-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0440299&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SGER; Proposal; forModeling; Dynamics; Shape

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are rubbers whoseconstituent molecules are orientationally ordered, with theirsalient feature being a strong coupling between the orientationalorder and mechanical strain. A characteristic feature of LCEs isthat relatively small external effects, such as changes intemperature or onset of illumination, can produce huge and rapiddeformations. LCEs will likely assume real technologicalimportance due of their softness and their ready responsivenessto applied fields, yielding applications in microfluidic pumpingand switching, and helping to answer basic questions inlocomotion. By extending the theory of rubber networks, theinvestigators develop and explore continuum descriptions of thesematerials, and study how LCEs behave in the bulk and ininteraction with an external fluid, and begin to developsimulational methods for these systems. Parallel to thetheoretical study is an experimental program that involves theapplications of LCEs, such as to locomotion, but also to newmaterials synthesis. Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are active flexiblematerials whose constituent molecules can be reoriented ordisordered by applying electric or temperature fields. Aconsequence of this is that relatively small external effects,say in temperature changes or an onset of illumination, canproduce huge and rapid deformations of the material. Theinvestigators have already demonstrated that LCEs can havefascinating dynamics when interacting with a fluidic environment,such as the observed "swimming" of floating LCE samples away froman illuminated region. These materials may be of technologicalimportance due of their softness and responsiveness, suggestingapplications in microfluidic pumping and switching, and helpingto answer basic questions in locomotion. To fully exploit thesematerials the development of soundly based mathematical models iscrucial. The investigators develop mathematical descriptions ofthese materials, and seek to understand the ways in which LCEsinteract with applied fields and with their environment. Parallel to the theoretical studies is an experimental programthat involves the applications of LCEs, such as to locomotion,but also to new materials synthesis.

液晶弹性体（LCE）是其组成分子定向有序的橡胶，其显着特征是定向有序与机械应变之间的强耦合。 LCE 的一个特征是相对较小的外部影响，例如温度变化或光照开始，可以产生巨大而快速的变形。 由于 LCE 的柔软性和对应用领域的快速响应能力，LCE 可能会发挥真正的技术重要性，在微流体泵送和开关中产生应用，并帮助回答运动中的基本问题。 通过扩展橡胶网络理论，研究人员开发和探索了这些材料的连续描述，研究了 LCE 在整体中​​的行为以及与外部流体的相互作用，并开始开发这些系统的模拟方法。 与理论研究并行的是一个实验项目，涉及 LCE 的应用，例如运动，但也涉及新材料合成。 液晶弹性体（LCE）是一种活性柔性材料，其组成分子可以通过施加电场或温度场重新取向或无序。 其结果是，相对较小的外部影响，例如温度变化或光照的开始，可以使材料产生巨大而快速的变形。研究人员已经证明，LCE 在与流体环境相互作用时可以具有令人着迷的动力学，例如观察到漂浮的 LCE 样本“游动”远离照明区域。 这些材料由于其柔软性和响应性而可能具有技术重要性，建议在微流体泵送和开关中应用，并帮助回答运动中的基本问题。 为了充分利用这些材料，开发基于可靠的数学模型至关重要。 研究人员对这些材料进行了数学描述，并试图了解 LCE 与应用领域及其环境相互作用的方式。与理论研究并行的是一个实验项目，涉及 LCE 的应用，例如运动，以及新材料合成。