Modeling and analysis of self-sustaining oscillation behavior of liquid crystal elastomer fiber/baffle system under stable full-field illumination

In this research, a self-sustaining oscillation liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) fiber/baffle system was constructed, composed of a light-sensitive LCE fiber and a light-blocking baffle. Under stable full-field illumination, this system can maintain self-sustaining oscillation. By utilizing a well-established LCE dynamics model, a nonlinear model of dynamic behavior for the LCE fiber/baffle system was developed, and the main characteristics of the system were analyzed. The results show that the LCE fiber/baffle system displays two distinct modes: self-sustaining oscillation and static. The system's continuous oscillation is maintained through the equilibrium between the energy from light exposure and the energy loss caused by damping. A detailed analysis of key system parameters that influence the oscillation amplitude and frequency was conducted. Compared to typically complex self-excited oscillation systems, this system stands out for its simplicity and ease of fabrication, without the need for specialized light exposure regions. It is poised to catalyze broader creative design approaches in the fields of micro-devices and mechanical engineering .