Development of micro-electric machines driven by liquid crystalline backflow

As a purpose of developing micro-electric machines, transient behaviors of a nematic liquid crystal between two parallel plates are simulated with various parameters such as applied voltage, gap between the two plates, twist and tilt angles. When the twist anchoring angle is 0 degree, the induced velocity profile is anti-symmetric S-shaped profile. The velocity profile is symmetric for the case that the twist angle is 180 degree. With increasing the applied voltage, the shear stress acting on the plate and the velocity are increased. The gap has comparatively little effect. The simulation result is in excellent agreement with the experimental result.