Gamma-convergence results for nematic elastomer bilayers: relaxation and actuation

DOI10.1051/COCV/2022029zbMATH Open1491.82021arXiv2012.14876OpenAlexW3113614447WikidataQ114011464 ScholiaQ114011464MaRDI QIDQ5084460FDOQ5084460

Authors: Pierluigi Cesana, Andrés A. León Baldelli 

Publication date: 24 June 2022

Published in: ESAIM: Control, Optimisation and Calculus of Variations (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We compute effective energies of thin bilayer structures composed by soft nematic elastic-liquid crystals in various geometrical regimes and functional configurations. Our focus is on order-strain interaction in elastic foundations composed of an isotropic layer attached to a nematic substrate. We compute Gamma-limits as the layers thickness vanishes in two main scaling regimes exhibiting spontaneous stress relaxation and shape-morphing, allowing in both cases out-of-plane displacements. This extends the plane strain modelling of [*], showing the asymptotic emergence of fully coupled macroscopic active-nematic foundations. Subsequently, we focus on actuation and compute asymptotic configurations of an active plate on nematic foundation interacting with an applied electric field. From the analytical standpoint, the presence of an electric field and its associated electrostatic work turns the total energy into a non-convex and non-coercive functional. We show that equilibrium solutions are min-max points of the system, that min-maximising sequences pass to the limit and, that the limit system can exert mechanical work under applied electric fields. [*]: P. Cesana and A. A. Le'on Baldelli. "Variational modelling of nematic elastomer foundations". In: Mathematical Models and Methods in Applied Sciences 14 (2018)

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.14876

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zbMATH Keywords

gamma-convergencelinearized elasticityliquid crystalsnematic elastomersbi-layers

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Electro- and magnetostatics (78A30) Variational methods applied to PDEs (35A15) Integro-partial differential equations (35R09) Methods involving semicontinuity and convergence; relaxation (49J45) Homogenization in equilibrium problems of solid mechanics (74Q05) Statistical mechanics of random media, disordered materials (including liquid crystals and spin glasses) (82D30) Linear elasticity with initial stresses (74B10)

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Cited In (8)

• Nematic elastomers: gamma-limits for large bodies and small particles
• Variational modelling of nematic elastomer foundations
• Bending of bilayers with general initial shapes
• Liquid crystal elastomers wrinkling
• A nonlinear bending theory for nematic LCE plates
• Dimension reduction via \(\Gamma \)-convergence for soft active materials
• Actuation of thin nematic elastomer sheets with controlled heterogeneity
• Effective behavior of nematic elastomer membranes

Uses Software

• PETSc
• FEniCS
• SyFi

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