Electric-field induced deformation and bending in nematic elastomer strips with orientation gradient

•Electric-field induced bending occurs in nematic elastomers with orientation gradient.•Bending shapes strongly depend on the orientational distribution of the director.•Analytical and finite element solutions for the bending behavior are obtained.•Bending curvature is enhanced by adjusting the linearly varying director distribution.•Bending curvature can be increased by > 300% of that of the splay-bend sample.