Oscillatory shear flow of nematic liquid crystals

Wesley R. Burghardt*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

The response of a nematic liquid crystal to oscillating shear flow has been calculated. In both low and high frequency limits, the macroscopic response is dominated by viscous effects, under the influence of dominant boundary-induced and hydrodynamic torques, respectively. At intermediate frequencies, distortional (Frank) elasticity lends the macroscopic response viscoelastic character, exhibiting a significant effective storage modulus. The possible influence of distortional elasticity on the oscillatory response of liquid crystal polymers is qualitatively discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)49-62
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Rheology
Volume35
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1991

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Materials Science(all)
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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