ER effect of liquid crystal flowing between two parallel-plate electrodes

Liquid crystal is one of homogeneous ER(Electro-rheological) fluids in some range of temperature. Transient responses of pressure drop are examined when liquid crystal flows between two parallel-plate electrodes for constant flow rates. When voltages are applied on the liquid crystal and removed, the pressure responses of the inlet of electrodes are measured with the pressure transducer. At the same time, liquid crystal between the transparent electrodes made of glass is visualized with the high-speed video camera to investigate the time history of the director of the liquid crystal. Outlet of the flow channel with two parallel-plate electrodes is atmosphere. Relation between the flow visualization results and the changes of pressure drop is investigated especially for transient period. In the present experiment the flow rates change from 0.001cc/sec(velocity is Imm/sec) to 0.003cc/sec and the electric field intensity is from 0.2kV/mm to 1kV/mm. The gap of the electrodes is 0.2mm. The isotropic-nematic transition is 35.5degreesC and smectic-nematic transition is 23.1degreesC. The open-loop test facility with the liquid crystal is set in a pyrostat to keep the temperature constant.