Isothermal hydrodynamics of biaxial nematics

Abstract

Differential equations governing elastic and flow behavior of compressible biaxial nematics are derived using the Ericksen-Leslie approach (ELA). Expressions of the free energy density F, viscous stress (s)grave1ji and flexoelectric polarisation Pi(f)are derived for monoclinic and triclinic nematics using the principal axes approach utilised by Saupe. The expression of (s)grave1ji derived using ELA can be reduced to that derived from Saupe's approach by adopting a procedure which was developed in an earlier communication. For biaxial nematics, the number of elastic constants seems to be the same as the number of viscosity coefficients, in general.