Fig. 4. Through-thickness variation.

(A) Critical curvature and (B) energy released in the snap-through event are predicted for LCE elements with varying thickness-to-width ratio as a function of spontaneous in-plane strain. Schematic of each of the three element variations and corresponding high-speed imagery of response is shown for variations of thickness and modulus gradient by combining (C) two high-modulus films and one low-modulus film, (D) one low-modulus film and one high-modulus film, and (E) three low-modulus films and one high-modulus film.