Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites
Published on: February 6, 2016
Nematic liquid-crystal director configuration for general elastic coefficients
1Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology and Goteborg University, S-41296 Gothenburg, Sweden.
Abstract:
We provide a general analytical solution for the director field of a nematic liquid crystal confined between two horizontal plates. The derivation goes beyond the common one-constant approximation where the elastic coefficients are assumed equal. The solution remains valid in the presence of an applied magnetic or electric field. The effect on the bulk director of various director anchoring angles at the confining plates is derived and analyzed. Further, a generalization of the Freedericksz transition to other anchoring angles is investigated.
Related Concept Videos
Generalized Hooke's Law
Relation between Poisson's ratio, Modulus of Elasticity and Modulus of Rigidity
Bending of Members Made of Several Materials
Hooke's Law determines stress in each material, stating that stress is proportional to strain but varies due to each material's...
Equation of the Elastic Curve
Consider a cantilever beam with a point load at its free end (for instance, a diving board). When analyzing beam deflection with small slopes, the shape of the beam's elastic curve becomes key. The governing equation for this analysis involves the bending moment and the beam's flexural rigidity,...
Elastic Curve from the Load Distribution
For all beams, the analysis of the beam's reaction to distributed loads begins by understanding the relationship between a beam's load and the resulting shear forces and bending moments. Initially, this...
Elastic Strain Energy for Shearing Stresses

