抄録
We have numerically and experimentally investigated the backflow effect of liquid crystals. The liquid crystalline material (5CB) is placed between two parallel plates and an electric field is imposed on the material. The induced backflow is visualized by small particles suspended in the liquid crystal. The experimental results exhibit qualitative agreement with the numerical results of the Leslie-Ericksen model. From the results it is found that the induced backflow velocity is higher for smaller gap distance between the plates and for higher applied voltage. Utilizing the backflow, we have developed the liquid crystalline actuator in which the shear force of the backflow drives one of the plates. It is successfully confirmed that the plate is driven by the backflow by applying the pulsed electric field. The driving speed of the plate strongly depends on the frequency of the pulsed electric field.
