Orientation instability of shear flow of a nematic liquid crystal

The instability of shear flow of a nematic liquid crystal layer is studied. The case when the orientation vector and the flow velocity vector are parallel is considered. It is shown that the orientation instability of this flow is possible if the anchoring boundary condition is weak and if the splay...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMoscow University mechanics bulletin Vol. 71; no. 6; pp. 142 - 144
Main Author Kalugin, A. G.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Allerton Press 01.11.2016
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Boundary conditions
Classical Mechanics
Flow velocity
Nematic crystals
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
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Summary:The instability of shear flow of a nematic liquid crystal layer is studied. The case when the orientation vector and the flow velocity vector are parallel is considered. It is shown that the orientation instability of this flow is possible if the anchoring boundary condition is weak and if the splay-bend constants in the Frank energy are taken into account. For this type of instability, periodic structures are possible to appear. Their wave vector belongs to the plane of flow and is perpendicular to the velocity vector. The medium parameters are estimated on the basis of the existence condition for this instability. The period of the appearing periodic structures is evaluated.
ISSN:0027-1330
1934-8452
DOI:10.3103/S0027133016060042