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

液晶弹性体（LCEs）是一种分子间具有取向有序性的橡胶，其显著特征是取向有序性与机械应变之间的强耦合。 LCE的一个典型特征是相对较小的外部影响，如温度或光照的变化，可以产生巨大而快速的变形。 LCE将可能承担真实的技术重要性，由于其柔软性和对应用领域的快速响应，在微流体泵送和开关中产生应用，并有助于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这些材料的连续描述，并研究LCE在本体中以及与外部流体相互作用时的行为，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，以及新材料的合成。 液晶弹性体（LCEs）是一种柔性的活性材料，其组成分子可以通过施加电场或温度场而重新取向或无序化。 这样做的结果是，相对较小的外部影响，比如温度变化或光照的开始，可以产生巨大的和快速的材料变形。研究人员已经证明，当与流体环境相互作用时，LCE可以具有迷人的动力学，例如观察到的LCE样品漂浮在远离照明区域的"游泳"。 这些材料可能具有技术重要性，因为它们的柔软性和响应性，在微流体泵送和开关中的广泛应用，并有助于回答运动中的基本问题。 为了充分利用这些材料，建立健全的数学模型是至关重要的。 研究人员开发这些材料的数学描述，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。

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.