Leslie-Erickson theory

The nematic phase has properties that resemble those of a solid yet also those of a fluid. A very successful approach to modelling the behaviour of liquid crystals is based on fluid dynamics. These theories are based on the concept of the Leslie-Erickson theory of hydrodynamic flow. ° The theory considers the use of a series of coefficients, the rotations between the coefficients describing the liquid. The state of a fluid at point r where r = (x, y, z) at a given time is defined by the fluid velocity v(r, i) and any two thermodynamic variables, such as pressure P(r, t) or density p(r, i). The fluid obeys the conservation laws ... 

The foundations of continuum theory were first established by Oseen [61] and Zocher [107] and significantly developed by Frank [65], who introduced the concept of curvature elasticity. Erickson [17, 18] and Leslie [15, 16] then formulated the general laws and constitutive equations describing the mechanical behavior of the nematic and chiral nematic phases. 

---