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Leaping liquid crystal elastomers
Tayler S Hebner1, Kevin Korner2, Christopher N Bowman1,3
1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
Science Advances
|January 18, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed fast-acting liquid crystalline elastomer (LCE) components that exhibit rapid snap-through motion. These engineered LCEs can leap over 200 times their thickness in just 6 milliseconds.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Soft Robotics
Background:
- Snap-through mechanisms are common in nature and engineered systems.
- Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are responsive materials capable of mechanical actuation.
- Existing LCE actuators are limited by slow deformation rates due to their second-order phase transition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To achieve rapid and powerful snap-through responses in LCEs.
- To overcome the speed limitations of conventional LCE actuators.
- To explore the use of functionally graded LCEs for high-speed mechanical events.
Main Methods:
- Locally patterning director orientation in LCEs.
- Fabricating LCE mechanical elements with through-thickness modulus gradients.
- Utilizing stimuli-induced mechanical instability for snap-through.
- Complementing experimental work with computational mechanics evaluation.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated stimuli-induced snap-through response in LCEs as fast as 6 milliseconds.
- Observed LCE elements leaping to heights over 200 times their material thickness.
- Validated a computational model for predicting LCE mechanics and performance.
- Showcased directional leaping capabilities of the functionally graded LCE elements.
Conclusions:
- Functionally graded LCEs enable significantly faster and more powerful snap-through actuation than previously possible.
- The developed LCE elements exhibit rapid acceleration and substantial force output.
- Computational modeling serves as an effective design tool for optimizing LCE-based mechanical systems for applications like directional leaping.
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