Self-Rotation of Electrothermally Responsive Liquid Crystal Elastomer-Based Turntable in Steady-State Circuits
Self-excited motions, characterized by their ability to harness energy from a consistent environment and self-regulate, exhibit significant potential in micro-devices, autonomous robotics, sensor technology, and energy generation. This study introduces an innovative turntable system based on an elec...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/23/4598 |
| _version_ | 1797399667345981440 |
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| author | Zongsong Yuan Junxiu Liu Guqian Qian Yuntong Dai Kai Li |
| author_facet | Zongsong Yuan Junxiu Liu Guqian Qian Yuntong Dai Kai Li |
| author_sort | Zongsong Yuan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Self-excited motions, characterized by their ability to harness energy from a consistent environment and self-regulate, exhibit significant potential in micro-devices, autonomous robotics, sensor technology, and energy generation. This study introduces an innovative turntable system based on an electrothermally responsive liquid crystal elastomer (LCE). This system facilitates self-rotation within a steady-state circuit. Employing an electrothermal LCE model, we have modeled and numerically analyzed the nonlinear dynamics of an LCE-rope within steady-state circuits, utilizing the four-order Runge–Kutta method for calculations. The numerical results reveal the emergence of two distinct motion patterns in the turntable system under steady-state conditions: a self-rotation pattern and a static pattern. The self-rotation is initiated when the system’s absorbed energy surpasses the energy lost due to damping effects. Furthermore, this paper delves into the critical conditions necessary for initiating self-rotation and examines the influence of various key dimensionless parameters on the system’s rotation amplitude and frequency. These parameters include gravitational acceleration, the initial position of the mass ball, elastic stiffness of the LCE and spring, limiting temperature, heating zone angle, thermal shrinkage coefficient, and damping factor. Our computational findings establish that these parameters exert a modulatory impact on the rotation amplitude and period. This research enhances the understanding of self-excited motions and offers promising avenues for applications in energy harvesting, monitoring, soft robotics, medical devices, and micro- and nano-devices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:44:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d12fcd2a65354c99a1a7072d39244555 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:44:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-d12fcd2a65354c99a1a7072d392445552023-12-08T15:24:33ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-12-011523459810.3390/polym15234598Self-Rotation of Electrothermally Responsive Liquid Crystal Elastomer-Based Turntable in Steady-State CircuitsZongsong Yuan0Junxiu Liu1Guqian Qian2Yuntong Dai3Kai Li4College of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSelf-excited motions, characterized by their ability to harness energy from a consistent environment and self-regulate, exhibit significant potential in micro-devices, autonomous robotics, sensor technology, and energy generation. This study introduces an innovative turntable system based on an electrothermally responsive liquid crystal elastomer (LCE). This system facilitates self-rotation within a steady-state circuit. Employing an electrothermal LCE model, we have modeled and numerically analyzed the nonlinear dynamics of an LCE-rope within steady-state circuits, utilizing the four-order Runge–Kutta method for calculations. The numerical results reveal the emergence of two distinct motion patterns in the turntable system under steady-state conditions: a self-rotation pattern and a static pattern. The self-rotation is initiated when the system’s absorbed energy surpasses the energy lost due to damping effects. Furthermore, this paper delves into the critical conditions necessary for initiating self-rotation and examines the influence of various key dimensionless parameters on the system’s rotation amplitude and frequency. These parameters include gravitational acceleration, the initial position of the mass ball, elastic stiffness of the LCE and spring, limiting temperature, heating zone angle, thermal shrinkage coefficient, and damping factor. Our computational findings establish that these parameters exert a modulatory impact on the rotation amplitude and period. This research enhances the understanding of self-excited motions and offers promising avenues for applications in energy harvesting, monitoring, soft robotics, medical devices, and micro- and nano-devices.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/23/4598liquid crystal elastomersself-excited motionrotationelectrothermally responsiverope |
| spellingShingle | Zongsong Yuan Junxiu Liu Guqian Qian Yuntong Dai Kai Li Self-Rotation of Electrothermally Responsive Liquid Crystal Elastomer-Based Turntable in Steady-State Circuits Polymers liquid crystal elastomers self-excited motion rotation electrothermally responsive rope |
| title | Self-Rotation of Electrothermally Responsive Liquid Crystal Elastomer-Based Turntable in Steady-State Circuits |
| title_full | Self-Rotation of Electrothermally Responsive Liquid Crystal Elastomer-Based Turntable in Steady-State Circuits |
| title_fullStr | Self-Rotation of Electrothermally Responsive Liquid Crystal Elastomer-Based Turntable in Steady-State Circuits |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self-Rotation of Electrothermally Responsive Liquid Crystal Elastomer-Based Turntable in Steady-State Circuits |
| title_short | Self-Rotation of Electrothermally Responsive Liquid Crystal Elastomer-Based Turntable in Steady-State Circuits |
| title_sort | self rotation of electrothermally responsive liquid crystal elastomer based turntable in steady state circuits |
| topic | liquid crystal elastomers self-excited motion rotation electrothermally responsive rope |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/23/4598 |
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