Torques in Sheared Nematic Liquid Crystals: A Simple Model in Terms of the Theory of Dense Fluids

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Abstract
A fluid of equally and rigidly oriented molecules interacting through a smooth ellipsoidal two‐body potential is considered. We derive the ratio of the shear‐torque coefficients and the ratio of the shear‐viscosity coefficients for two orientations of the unique axis, one parallel to the flow and the other parallel to the velocity gradient. In addition, we confirm the validity of an Onsager relation. Given one of the four coefficients, the other three can be calculated if the axial ratio of the prolate ellipsoids of revolution is known. In accordance with the theory of dense fluids, it is assumed that intermolecular forces rather than molecular motion dominate momentum transfer.

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