Dual photo- and magneto-responses of layered beams composed of liquid crystal elastomers and magnetic responsive elastomers.

Wirelessly actuated soft smart materials have great potential applications in real-world actuation and sensing in robotics and biomedical engineering. On the other hand, layered structures can gain more versatile and functional properties then conventional structures. This paper studies the photo- and magneto-responses of a layered beam consisting of liquid crystal elastomers and magnetic responsive elastomers. Based on the finite deformation theory and taking into account the coupling effect of light incidence angle and deformation, governing equation of the layered beam is derived and solved by a new numerical mothed. The results are validated by previous experimental data. It is found that the coupling effect of light incidence angle and the deformation of beam should be taken into account, especially for soft materials with large deformation. For example, neglecting the coupling effect of the light incidence angle and deformation, the maximum deflection of the cantilever beam will be underdetermined by 20.5%, if the light intensity reaches at 1.2 kW/m². Whether the coupling effect of the light incidence angle and deformation enhances or reduces bending deformation of the beam depends on its boundary conditions and the initial light incidence angle. These results may be useful for designing photo- and magneto-responsive soft robotic and other functional devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]