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Impact damping and vibration attenuation in nematic liquid crystal elastomers

Author

Listed:
  • Mohand O. Saed

    (University of Cambridge
    Cambridge Smart Plastics Ltd)

  • Waiel Elmadih

    (University of Nottingham)

  • Andrew Terentjev

    (Cambridge Smart Plastics Ltd)

  • Dimitrios Chronopoulos

    (KU Leuven)

  • David Williamson

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Eugene M. Terentjev

    (University of Cambridge)

Abstract

Nematic liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) exhibit unique mechanical properties, placing them in a category distinct from other viscoelastic systems. One of their most celebrated properties is the ‘soft elasticity’, leading to a wide plateau of low, nearly-constant stress upon stretching, a characteristically slow stress relaxation, enhanced surface adhesion, and other remarkable effects. The dynamic soft response of LCE to shear deformations leads to the extremely large loss behaviour with the loss factor tanδ approaching unity over a wide temperature and frequency ranges, with clear implications for damping applications. Here we investigate this effect of anomalous damping, optimising the impact and vibration geometries to reach the greatest benefits in vibration isolation and impact damping by accessing internal shear deformation modes. We compare impact energy dissipation in shaped samples and projectiles, with elastic wave transmission and resonance, finding a good correlation between the results of such diverse tests. By comparing with ordinary elastomers used for industrial damping, we demonstrate that the nematic LCE is an exceptional damping material and propose directions that should be explored for further improvements in practical damping applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohand O. Saed & Waiel Elmadih & Andrew Terentjev & Dimitrios Chronopoulos & David Williamson & Eugene M. Terentjev, 2021. "Impact damping and vibration attenuation in nematic liquid crystal elastomers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-27012-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27012-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Qingrui Wang & Xiaoyong Tian & Daokang Zhang & Yanli Zhou & Wanquan Yan & Dichen Li, 2023. "Programmable spatial deformation by controllable off-center freestanding 4D printing of continuous fiber reinforced liquid crystal elastomer composites," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Yu Cang & Jiaqi Liu & Meguya Ryu & Bartlomiej Graczykowski & Junko Morikawa & Shu Yang & George Fytas, 2022. "On the origin of elasticity and heat conduction anisotropy of liquid crystal elastomers at gigahertz frequencies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Jianfeng Yang & M. Ravi Shankar & Hao Zeng, 2024. "Photochemically responsive polymer films enable tunable gliding flights," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

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