Soft optical composites for tunable transmittance
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Reis_Soft optical composites.pdf
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7.32 MB
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Author(s)
Upadhyaya, P.
Liljenhjerte, J.
Kumar, S.
Lopez Jimenez, Francisco
Reis, Pedro Miguel
Date Issued
September 2016
Journal
Extreme Mechanics Letters
Publisher
Elsevier
Citation
López Jiménez, F. et al. “Soft Optical Composites for Tunable Transmittance.” Extreme Mechanics Letters 9 (December 2016): 297–303 © 2016 Elsevier Ltd
Version
Author's final manuscript
Abstract
We introduce a soft composite that is actuated mechanically to achieve switchable and tunable optical transmittance. Our design comprises a series of parallel opaque platelets embedded into an optically clear silicone-based elastomer matrix. Under an applied shear loading, the platelets rotate, thereby gradually increasing the transmittance of light through the device, in a controllable and reversible manner. Experiments on a prototype device are used to support finite element simulations that explore the parameter space of the system towards providing a set of design guidelines. Specifically, we study how the optical transmittance depends on the stiffness mismatch between the matrix and the platelets, as well as their initial orientation and aspect ratio. We also focus on the maximum attainable value of transmittance and the energetic requirements to achieve it. Keywords: Soft materials; Composites; Transmittance; Optical devices
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EML.2016.09.003
