English

Elastic Effects in Disordered Nematic Networks

Soft Condensed Matter 2009-10-31 v1 Disordered Systems and Neural Networks

Abstract

Elastic effects in a model of disordered nematic elastomers are numerically investigated in two dimensions. Networks crosslinked in the isotropic phase exhibit unusual soft mechanical response against stretching. It arises from gradual alignment of orientationally correlated regions that are elongated along the director. A sharp crossover to a macroscopically aligned state is obtained on further stretching. The effect of random internal stress is also discussed.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9907155,
  title  = {Elastic Effects in Disordered Nematic Networks},
  author = {Nariya Uchida},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9907155},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

5 pages, 5 figures