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Mechanical response of smectic C elastomers
James M Adams
,M Warner
Cambridge University
The elastic response of a smectic C elastomer to the three
deformations of imposed $\l{xx}$, $\l{xz}$ and $\l{zz}$ is modelled
using a non-linear theory of a nematic elastomer with embedded
smectic layers, and a rigid tilt of the director with respect to the
smectic layer normal. The main focus is the elastic response after
any soft mode of the sample. It is found that the elastomer
contracts in the $\vec{x}$ direction under $\l{xz}$ shear. On
stretching parallel to the layer normal it is found that there is a
soft mode that acts to rotate the director towards the $\vec{z}$
direction. The deformation of the system after this soft mode can be
reduced to shear perpendicular to the layers and an elongation
parallel to the layers. Experimentally testable predictions of the
mechanical response of the elastomer, in particular the length of
the soft plateau and the asymptotic modulus for the elastomer when
stretched parallel to the layer normal. The model is then
qualitatively compared to existing experimental literature on the
mechanical alignment of polydomains.
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