Liquid Crystal Orientation and Shape Optimization for the Active Response of Liquid Crystal Elastomers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Computational Mechanics
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are advanced materials exhibiting large, reversible deformations in response to external stimuli like heat or electricity.
• Their unique properties stem from the controlled alignment of liquid crystal mesogens, offering a novel design approach compared to traditional materials.
• While experiments provide insights, computational methods are crucial for fully realizing the potential of LCEs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a computational framework for the gradient-based design optimization of LCEs.
• To enable efficient exploration of the design space by utilizing adjoint sensitivity analysis for gradient computation.
• To demonstrate the framework's versatility in solving complex LCE design problems.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a nonlinear LCE model within a finite element-based open-source framework.
• Integration of adjoint sensitivity analysis for gradient calculation in design optimization.
• Development of a gradient-based optimization tool tailored for LCEs.

Main Results:

• Successful application of the framework to optimize LCE material (liquid crystal orientation) and structural shape for target actuated forms.
• Demonstration of optimizing LCEs for maximum energy absorption capabilities.
• Investigation of various parameterizations in 2D and 3D, considering fabrication constraints.

Conclusions:

• The developed computational framework effectively supports the design optimization of LCEs for specific functionalities.
• The approach allows for simultaneous optimization of material properties and structural geometry.
• Future work can focus on enhancing the robustness of computational frameworks for broader LCE applications.