title: Elastic effects in disordered nematic networks.
abstract: Elastic effects in a model of disordered nematic elastomers are numerically investigated in two dimensions. Networks crosslinked in the isotropic phase exhibit an unusual soft mechanical response against stretching. It arises from a gradual alignment of orientationally correlated regions that are elongated along the director. A sharp crossover to a macroscopically aligned state is obtained on further stretching. The effect of random internal stress is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uchida