A model suitable for simulating lyotropic polymer liquid crystals (PLC
s) is described. By varying the persistence length between infinity an
d 25, the effect of increasing flexibility on the nematic-smectic tran
sition of a PLC with a length-to-width ratio L/D = 6 is investigated.
It is found that increasing flexibility shifts the formation of a smec
tic phase to higher densities. Comparison is made with a recent theory
of the nematic-smectic transition of slightly flexible rods.