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Nematic director fields and topographies of solid shells of revolution.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Abstract

We solve the forward and inverse problems associated with the transformation of flat sheets with circularly symmetric director fields to surfaces of revolution with non-trivial topography, including Gaussian curvature, without a stretch elastic cost. We deal with systems slender enough to have a small bend energy cost. Shape change is induced by light or heat causing contraction along a non-uniform director field in the plane of an initially flat nematic sheet. The forward problem is, given a director distribution, what shape is induced? Along the way, we determine the Gaussian curvature and the evolution with induced mechanical deformation of the director field and of material curves in the surface (proto-radii) that will become radii in the final surface. The inverse problem is, given a target shape, what director field does one need to specify? Analytic examples of director fields are fully calculated that will, for specific deformations, yield catenoids and paraboloids of revolution. The general prescription is given in terms of an integral equation and yields a method that is generally applicable to surfaces of revolution.

Description

Keywords

curvature, elastomers, glasses, nematic, shape

Journal Title

Proc Math Phys Eng Sci

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1364-5021
1471-2946

Volume Title

474

Publisher

The Royal Society
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/P034616/1)