Shape-morphing of topological liquid crystal elastomer kirigami

We investigate the actuation of laser-cut liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) samples imprinted with topological defects in their director microstructure and a director splay/twist along sample thickness. These topological LCE kirigami samples exhibit a rich variety of actuation behavior, including a bio-mimetic fluttering butterfly; accordion folds; bending, right-handed and left-handed twist coexisting in one sample; among others. Via finite-element elastodynamics, we simulate this actuation behavior and monitor strain distribution in the sample, observing the time-evolution of high-strain regions given by the topological defects within the custom-cut macroscopic geometry.