Soft elasticity optimises dissipation in 3D-printed liquid crystal elastomers

Soft-elasticity in monodomain liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) is promising for impact-absorbing applications where strain energy is ideally absorbed at constant stress. Conventionally, compressive and impact studies on LCEs have not been performed given the notorious difficulty synthesizing sufficiently large monodomain devices. Here, we use direct-ink writing 3D printing to fabricate bulk (>cm3) monodomain LCE devices and study their compressive soft-elasticity over 8 decades of strain rate. At quasi-static rates, the monodomain soft-elastic LCE dissipated 45% of strain energy while comparator materials dissipated less than 20%. At strain rates up to 3000 s−1, our soft-elastic monodomain LCE consistently performed closest to an ideal-impact absorber. Drop testing reveals soft-elasticity as a likely mechanism for effectively reducing the severity of impacts – with soft elastic LCEs offering a Gadd Severity Index 40% lower than a comparable isotropic elastomer. Lastly, we demonstrate tailoring deformation and buckling behavior in monodomain LCEs via the printed director orientation.

Folding-mediated soft elasticity and bandgap variation in mechanical metamaterials

Soft mechanical metamaterials with hinge-like elements can undergo multi-step reconfiguration through folding and contacts, and thus exhibit highly nonlinear responses. Numerical simulation of the nonlinear behaviors is essential for the design and control of the mechanical metamaterials, but it remains a challenge due to complicated nonlinear effects. Here, we report the finite element modeling of multi-step reconfiguration of a shape-changing metamaterial, and elucidate the underlying mechanism of soft elasticity. The predicted stress–strain curve together with the folding angles of hinge elements shows excellent agreement with experimental data reported in the literature. Moreover, we explore the influence of reconfiguration and folding-induced internal stress on the bandgap distribution of the mechanical metamaterials. Our efforts provide useful guidelines for the design and application of mechanical metamaterials for both static and dynamic situations.

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

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.

New insights into the nature of semi-soft elasticity and “mechanical-Fréedericksz transitions” in liquid crystal elastomers

Previously unseen coincidence of a semi-soft elastic-like load curve with a “mechanical-Fréedericksz transition” and negative liquid crystal order parameter (S).