MACROSCOPIC FLOW BEHAVIOR OF SMECTIC-C AND SMECTIC-C-ASTERISK LIQUID-CRYSTALS

The equations governing the macroscopic flow behaviour of smectic C an d smectic C liquid crystals are written down and it is demonstrated t hat the viscoelastic behaviour of these systems demands 20 viscous coe fficients and 9 elastic constants for a complete treatment. With the s mectic C stress tensor as a starting point, different aspects of the f low behaviour of the system are treated. Among the topics discussed ar e the concepts of torques and countertorques in smectic C and smectic C liquid crystals as well as flow alignment in shear and backflow eff ects in the switching dynamics of a surface stabilized ferroelectric l iquid crystal cell.