Shear response of monodomains of flow-aligning nematic liquid crystals: TIF model comparisons and effect of pre-tilt

This work is the continuation of a previous study [Van Horn BL, Winter HH (2000) Dynamics of shear aligning nematic liquid crystal monodomains. Rheol Acta 39:294-300] on the shear dynamics of monodomains of shear aligning nematic liquid crystals [NLC]. The strain dependence of director orientation has been experimentally investigated for monodomains of a NLC with various initial orientations. Comparison of experimental results to predictions using Ericksen's transversly isotropic fluid [TIF] model supports the validity of the TIF model for systems of low molecular weight NLCs. The TIF model has been used to examine the effect of pre-tilt on the dynamics of flow-aligning NLC monodomains. It is shown that small deviations from planar alignment (no pre-tilt) have a large effect on orientation dynamics.