Self-Oscillating Liquid Crystal Elastomer Helical Spring Oscillator with Combined Tension and Torsion

Self-oscillation is the autonomous maintenance of continuous periodic motion through energy absorption from non-periodic external stimuli, making it particularly attractive for fabricating soft robots, energy-absorbing devices, mass transport devices, and so on. Inspired by the self-oscillating syst...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymers 2023-08, Vol.15 (15), p.3294
Main Authors: Ge, Dali, Dai, Yuntong, Li, Kai
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Automation
Damping
Deformation
Dynamic models
Dynamical systems
Elastomers
Energy absorption
Energy harvesting
Helical springs
Illumination
Light
Liquid crystals
Local transit
Manufacturing engineering
Mass transport
Mechanical properties
Nonlinear dynamics
Oscillators
Phase transitions
Pneumatics
Robotics
Robots
Self oscillation
Strain
Structural design
Torsion
Wire
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Summary:Self-oscillation is the autonomous maintenance of continuous periodic motion through energy absorption from non-periodic external stimuli, making it particularly attractive for fabricating soft robots, energy-absorbing devices, mass transport devices, and so on. Inspired by the self-oscillating system that presents high degrees of freedom and diverse complex oscillatory motions, we created a self-oscillating helical spring oscillator with combined tension and torsion under steady illumination, among which a mass block and a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) helical spring made with LCE wire are included. Considering the well-established helical spring model and the dynamic LCE model, a nonlinear dynamic model of the LCE helical spring oscillator under steady illumination is proposed. From numerical calculation, the helical spring oscillator upon exposure to steady illumination possesses two motion regimes, which are the static regime and the self-tension-torsion regime. Contraction of the LCE wire under illumination is necessary to generate the self-tension-torsion of the helical spring oscillator, with its continuous periodic motion being maintained by the mutual balance between light energy input and damping dissipation. Additionally, the critical conditions for triggering the self-tension-torsion, as well as the vital system parameters affecting its frequencies and amplitudes of the translation and the rotation, were investigated in detail. This self-tension-torsion helical spring oscillator is unique in its customizable mechanical properties via its structural design, small material strain but large structural displacement, and ease of manufacture. We envision a future of novel designs for soft robotics, energy harvesters, active machinery, and so on.
ISSN:2073-4360
2073-4360
DOI:10.3390/polym15153294