全应变梯度挠曲电纳米梁有限单元法研究

挠曲电效应是一种存在于所有电介质材料中的特殊的力电耦合效应，本质上是应变梯度与电极化之间的线性耦合。然而，应变梯度会引入位移的高阶偏量，常给挠曲电问题的理论求解带来困难。且已有研究表明应变梯度弹性项会影响纳米结构中的力电耦合响应，但是现有的挠曲电研究大多忽略了应变梯度弹性的影响。因此，本文提出了一种既考虑应变梯度弹性，又考虑挠曲电效应的有效数值方法。基于全应变梯度弹性理论，建立了包含3个独立材料尺度参数的纳米欧拉梁的理论模型和有限元模型，提出了满足C₂弱连续的两节点六自由度单元。基于本文的有限单元法，以简支欧拉梁为例，通过分析讨论挠度、电势和能量效率，得到了挠曲电效应和应变梯度弹性项对梁的力电响应的影响。结果表明，挠曲电效应存在尺寸依赖性，且应变梯度弹性项在纳米电介质结构的挠曲电研究中的影响不可忽略。     

固体电介质中的挠曲电效应

挠曲电效应通常描述为非均匀变形如应变梯度引起的电极化或者电场梯度引起的变形。由于应变梯度能够局部破坏晶体的反演对称从而在材料中诱导电极化,因此挠曲电效应是固体电介质材料中普遍存在的一种力电耦合效应。由于应变梯度和电场梯度均随材料尺寸的减小而迅速增大,在宏观尺度通常被忽略的挠曲电效应在微纳尺度反而起着非常重要的作用,会显著影响材料的物理性能。与压电效应和电致伸缩效应相比,挠曲电效应具有独特的尺寸依赖特征,其不受材料对称性和铁电材料居里相变温度的限制。本文综述了固体电介质中的挠曲电效应,并重点从理论、材料和应用方面综述了固体电介质中挠曲电效应的研究进展,对挠曲电效应的独特性能进行了详细地讨论,最后本文展望了固体电介质中挠曲电效应相关研究的开放性问题和发展方向。     

考虑电场梯度的挠曲电纳米板弯曲性能分析

具有尺度依赖的挠曲电效应在器件的设计中扮演着越来越关键的角色, 研究人员在微纳米尺度多物理场分析中进行了大量工作. 基于考虑挠曲电和电场梯度效应的弹性介电材料非经典理论, 以二维纳米板为例, 通过理论建模, 分析纳米板在弯曲问题中的力?电耦合行为. 根据Mindlin假设给出板的位移场和电势场的一阶截断, 选取板的材料为立方晶体(m3m点群), 将广义三维本构方程代入到高阶应力、高阶偶应力、高阶电位移和高阶电四极矩的表达式中得到相应的二维本构方程, 利用弹性电介质变分原理得到板的控制方程和边界上的线积分等式, 分别将二维本构方程和边界上外法线的方向余弦代入, 得到板的高阶弯曲方程、高阶电势方程以及对应的四边简支边界条件. 利用四边简支矩形板的高阶弯曲方程、高阶电势方程和相应的边界条件, 根据Navier解理论, 求解纳米板的电势场, 重点分析电场梯度对板内一阶电势的影响. 数值计算结果表明: 电场梯度对纳米板中由挠曲电效应产生的一阶电势有削弱作用, 且材料参数g₁₁越大, 一阶电势受到的削弱越大; 同时电场梯度的存在消除了纳米板在受横向集中载荷作用时一阶电势的奇异性. 本文是对具有挠曲电效应和电场梯度效应的纳米板结构分析理论的一个扩展, 为微纳米尺度器件的结构设计提供参考.      

悬臂梁挠曲电俘能器的力电耦合模型及性能分析

挠曲电效应指应变梯度在电介质中引起的电极化现象，是一种普遍存在的力电耦合行为。应变梯度与材料的尺寸成反比，因此挠曲电效应有望在纳米尺度主导材料的物理性质，尤其是力电耦合性能。本文建立了悬臂梁挠曲电俘能器的理论模型，基于哈密顿原理得到了悬臂梁挠曲电俘能器的控制方程和相应的边界条件；进一步，得到了悬臂梁挠曲电俘能器的输出电压频率响应和功率密度频率响应随悬臂梁的振动频率、外电路阻抗、挠曲电层厚度以及弹性层模量的变化规律。聚偏氟乙烯和环氧树脂层合挠曲电悬臂梁俘能器模型的数值结果表明输出电压频率响应和功率密度频率响应在共振频率点取得最大值，且随着各阶模态对应的共振频率的增加悬臂梁挠曲电俘能器的输出电压和功率密度均增加。此外，计算结果还表明悬臂梁俘能器存在最佳匹配阻抗，在匹配阻抗附近悬臂梁俘能器的输出功率密度随挠曲电层厚度的减小而增大，表现出明显的尺寸效应。本文工作提供了一种基于挠曲电效应的悬臂梁俘能器的理论模型，为悬臂梁俘能器的设计提供了理论依据。     

悬臂梁挠曲电俘能器的力电耦合模型及性能分析

挠曲电效应指应变梯度在电介质中引起的电极化现象,是一种普遍存在的力电耦合行为。应变梯度与材料的尺寸成反比,因此挠曲电效应有望在纳米尺度主导材料的物理性质,尤其是力电耦合性能。本文建立了悬臂梁挠曲电俘能器的理论模型,基于哈密顿原理得到了悬臂梁挠曲电俘能器的控制方程和相应的边界条件;进一步,得到了悬臂梁挠曲电俘能器的输出电压频率响应和功率密度频率响应随悬臂梁的振动频率、外电路阻抗、挠曲电层厚度以及弹性层模量的变化规律。聚偏氟乙烯和环氧树脂层合挠曲电悬臂梁俘能器模型的数值结果表明输出电压频率响应和功率密度频率响应在共振频率点取得最大值,且随着各阶模态对应的共振频率的增加悬臂梁挠曲电俘能器的输出电压和功率密度均增加。此外,计算结果还表明悬臂梁俘能器存在最佳匹配阻抗,在匹配阻抗附近悬臂梁俘能器的输出功率密度随挠曲电层厚度的减小而增大,表现出明显的尺寸效应。本文工作提供了一种基于挠曲电效应的悬臂梁俘能器的理论模型,为悬臂梁俘能器的设计提供了理论依据。     

基于多尺度模型解释固体中的挠曲电效应

挠曲电效应是一种跨尺度的多场耦合现象。当前的宏观挠曲电理论均是基于应变梯度局部破坏晶体反演对称这一微观机理对该现象进行唯象描述。该宏观理论与基于晶格动力学及密度泛函理论的微观挠曲电理论模型之间存在较大差异。难以将两者结合用以跨尺度地研究材料中的挠曲电效应。针对该现状,本文基于前人提出的原子场理论,建立了一种新的多尺度挠曲电模型。并在该多尺度模型框架下解释了应变梯度诱发极化的微观机理。一方面,与基于连续介质力学的唯象理论不同,本文从材料微结构演化的角度推导了原子位移与极化的关系。另一方面,与通过晶格波假设原子位移的微观理论不同,本文得到的极化表达式更加真实和广义地解释了挠曲电效应。其能够适用于材料边界存在机械力作用,材料内部存在缺陷等复杂的情况。本文所建立的多尺度挠曲电模型能够为后续多尺度挠曲电效应的研究提供一些思路。     

考虑挠曲电效应的压电纳米薄板力-电-热耦合特性研究

摘要：挠曲电效应是由应变梯度引起的，与尺度相关的力电耦合效应。基于Kirchhoff板假设和挠曲电理论，本文推导了温度和电压作用下的压电薄板力-电-热耦合微分控制方程，定量分析了微分控制方程中非线性项的影响，并针对四周固支压电薄板采用Ritz法求解，数值计算了压电薄板的弯曲和振动行为。在研究温度和挠曲电效应对薄板耦合特性和力学行为的影响时，本文分别考虑了材料系数不随温度变化和随温度线性变化两种情况。以PZT-5H为例，我们讨论了挠曲电和温度对压电薄板的横向位移和固有频率的影响。研究结果表明挠曲电效应对压电纳米薄板的力学行为影响很大，且具有明显的尺寸效应。此外，薄板对温度变化非常敏感。因此，可通过挠曲电效应和温度来调控压电纳米薄板的多场耦合特性和力学行为，进而优化基于压电薄板的NEMS/MEMS中传感器、作动器等电子器件的性能。     

考虑挠曲电效应的压电纳米薄板力-电-热耦合特性研究

摘要：挠曲电效应是由应变梯度引起的,与尺度相关的力电耦合效应。基于Kirchhoff板假设和挠曲电理论,本文推导了温度和电压作用下的压电薄板力-电-热耦合微分控制方程,定量分析了微分控制方程中非线性项的影响,并针对四周固支压电薄板采用Ritz法求解,数值计算了压电薄板的弯曲和振动行为。在研究温度和挠曲电效应对薄板耦合特性和力学行为的影响时,本文分别考虑了材料系数不随温度变化和随温度线性变化两种情况。以PZT-5H为例,我们讨论了挠曲电和温度对压电薄板的横向位移和固有频率的影响。研究结果表明挠曲电效应对压电纳米薄板的力学行为影响很大,且具有明显的尺寸效应。此外,薄板对温度变化非常敏感。因此,可通过挠曲电效应和温度来调控压电纳米薄板的多场耦合特性和力学行为,进而优化基于压电薄板的NEMS/MEMS中传感器、作动器等电子器件的性能。     

考虑表面效应纳米压电双晶中波的频散分析

基于非局部应变梯度理论探究了考虑表面弹性和表面残余应力的纳米压电双晶中波的频散特性,压电双晶的上下压电层暴露在电场之中并且整体沉积在粘弹性基底之上.利用哈密顿原理和正弦剪切理论推导了控制方程,利用含非局部参数和长度尺度参数的尺度依赖本构关系得到了运动方程,带入谐波解求解相应的特征方程.数值揭示了表面弹性和表面残余应力、尺度参数和波数以及粘弹性基底对压电双晶的作用规律.研究表明,表面效应的存在对压电纳米双晶频率特性的研究至关重要,尺度参数和波数对频散特性具有耦合作用,弹性系数、阻尼系数和压电层厚度对频率的作用表现出区域性.     

电可通纳米尺度孔边均布多裂纹的电弹断裂分析

解析研究了面内电载荷和反平面机械载荷作用下压电体中纳米尺度圆孔边均布电可通多裂纹问题的断裂性能。基于Gurtin-Murdoch表面弹性理论，利用保角映射方法和复变弹性理论给出了裂纹尖端电弹场分布、电弹场强度因子及能量释放率的解析结果。阐述了无量纲电弹场强度因子、无量纲能量释放率的尺寸依赖效应，讨论了裂纹数量和缺陷几何参数对无量纲场强度因子和无量纲能量释放率的影响。结果表明：无量纲电弹场强度因子和无量纲能量释放率具有显著的尺寸依赖效应；考虑表面效应，孔径和裂纹长度相当时，电弹场强度因子达到最大；裂纹/孔径比对电弹场强度因子随裂纹数量变化的制约会随着裂纹数量的增加而逐渐消失；过大或过小的裂纹孔径比会削弱裂纹长度对能量释放率的影响。     

Vibration analysis of piezoelectric sandwich nanobeam with flexoelectricity based on nonlocal strain gradient theory

A nonlocal strain gradient theory(NSGT) accounts for not only the nongradient nonlocal elastic stress but also the nonlocality of higher-order strain gradients,which makes it benefit from both hardening and softening effects in small-scale structures.In this study, based on the NSGT, an analytical model for the vibration behavior of a piezoelectric sandwich nanobeam is developed with consideration of flexoelectricity. The sandwich nanobeam consists of two piezoelectric sheets and a non-piezoelectric core. The governing equation of vibration of the sandwich beam is obtained by the Hamiltonian principle. The natural vibration frequency of the nanobeam is calculated for the simply supported(SS) boundary, the clamped-clamped(CC) boundary, the clamped-free(CF)boundary, and the clamped-simply supported(CS) boundary. The effects of geometric dimensions, length scale parameters, nonlocal parameters, piezoelectric constants, as well as the flexoelectric constants are discussed. The results demonstrate that both the flexoelectric and piezoelectric constants enhance the vibration frequency of the nanobeam.The nonlocal stress decreases the natural vibration frequency, while the strain gradient increases the natural vibration frequency. The natural vibration frequency based on the NSGT can be increased or decreased, depending on the value of the nonlocal parameter to length scale parameter ratio.     

A Peridynamic Model of Fracture Mechanics with Bond-Breaking

Wave propagation in elastic dielectrics with flexoelectricity, micro-inertia and strain gradient elasticity is investigated in this paper. Dispersion phenomenon, which does not exist in classical elastic dielectric theory, is observed in the flexoelectric microstructured solids. Analytical solutions for the phase velocity \(C_{p}\), group velocity \(C_{g}\) and their ratio \(\gamma = C_{g} / C_{p}\) are calculated for the case of harmonic decomposition. The magnitudes of the phase velocity and group velocity changed with the increasing of the wave number, while they are constant in the classical elastic dielectric theory. It is shown that the flexoelectricity, micro-inertia and microstructural effects are significant to predict the real behavior of longitudinal wave propagating in flexoelectric microstructured solids. Microstructural effects are not sufficient for dealing with realistic dispersion curves in flexoelectric solids, the micro-inertia and flexoelectricity are needed to obtain a physically acceptable value of the phase and group velocities.     

Flexoelectric properties of ferroelectrics and the nanoindentation size-effect

Recent works have established the critical role of flexoelectricity in a variety of size-dependent physical phenomena related to ferroelectrics including giant piezoelectricity at the nanoscale, dead-layer effect in nanocapacitors, dielectric properties of nanostructures among others. Flexoelectricity couples strain gradients to polarization in both ordinary and piezoelectric dielectrics. Relatively few experimental works exist that have determined flexoelectric properties and they all generally involve some sort of bending tests on micro-specimens. In this work, we present a straightforward method based on nanoindentation that allows the evaluation of flexoelectric properties in a facile manner. The key contribution is the development of an analytical model that, in conjunction with indentation load–displacement data, allows an estimate of the flexoelectric constants. In particular, we confirm the experimental results of other groups on BaTiO₃ which differ by three orders of magnitude from atomistic predictions. Our analytical model predicts (duly confirmed by our experiments) a strong indentation size-effect due to flexoelectricity.     

A theory of flexoelectricity with surface effect for elastic dielectrics

The flexoelectric effect is very strong for nanosized dielectrics. Moreover, on the nanoscale, surface effects and the electrostatic force cannot be ignored. In this paper, an electric enthalpy variational principle for nanosized dielectrics is proposed concerning with the flexoelectric effect, the surface effects and the electrostatic force. Here, the surface effects contain the effects of both surface stress and surface polarization. From this variational principle, the governing equations and the generalized electromechanical Young-Laplace equations are derived and can account for the effects of flexoelectricity, surface and the electrostatic force. Moreover, based on this variational principle, both the generalized bulk and surface electrostatic stresses can be obtained and are composed of two parts: the Maxwell stress corresponding to the polarization and strain and the remainder relating to the polarization gradient and the strain gradient. The theory developed in this paper provides the underlying framework for the analyses and computational solutions of electromechanical problems in nanodielectrics.     

Utilizing mechanical loads and flexoelectricity to induce and control complicated evolution of domain patterns in ferroelectric nanofilms

We have conducted a systematical investigation to reveal the stability and evolution path of various ferroelectric domain patterns in nanofilms subjected to mechanical loads and related flexoelectric field. Within a rigorous framework of flexoelectricity, a phase-field approach has been established for simulating the domain structure of ferroelectric nanofilms. The electromechanical fields of the nanofilms are numerically solved by a fast Fourier transform technique (FFT) based on the combination of Khachaturyan's microscopic elastic theory and Stroh's formalism of anisotropic elasticity. Using this approach, we simulate eight types of domain patterns that can be stabilized in the nanofilms. It is further demonstrated that these domain patterns can be significantly affected by the mechanical loads and related flexoelectric field and exhibit fruitful evolution paths. To adapt the applied mechanical strain and strain gradient, the domain pattern may remain stable, evolve into another polydomain pattern, or become a monodomain state (an effect of domain erasing). The domain fraction, detailed domain morphology, average stresses in the nanofilms, average polarization and temporal evolution characteristics of the domain patterns under various mechanical loads and sources of flexoelectric field have been analyzed. This investigation should provide instructive information for the practical application of ferroelectric nanofilms under complex and changeable mechanical conditions.     

Buckling analysis of cylindrical thin-shells using strain gradient elasticity theory

The stability problem of cylindrical shells is addressed using higher-order continuum theories in a generalized framework. The length-scale effect which becomes prominent at microscale can be included in the continuum theory using gradient-based nonlocal theories such as the strain gradient elasticity theories. In this work, expressions for critical buckling stress under uniaxial compression are derived using an energy approach. The results are compared with the classical continuum theory, which can be obtained by setting the length-scale parameters to zero. A special case is obtained by setting two length scale parameters to zero. Thus, it is shown that both the couple stress theory and classical continuum theory forms a special case of the strain gradient theory. The effect of various parameters such as the shell-radius, shell-length, and length-scale parameters on the buckling stress are investigated. The dimensions and constants corresponding to that of a carbon nanotube, where the length-scale effect becomes prominent, is considered for this investigation.     

Nanoscale flexoelectric energy harvesting

One of the most tantalizing applications of piezoelectricity is to harvest energy from ambient mechanical vibrations for powering micro and nano devices. However, piezoelectricity is restricted only to certain materials and is severely compromised at high temperatures. In this article, we examine in detail, the possibility of using the phenomenon of flexoelectricity for energy harvesting. The flexoelectric effect is universally present in all dielectrics and exhibits a strong scaling with size. Using a simple beam-based paradigmatical design, we theoretically and computationally examine flexoelectric energy harvesting under harmonic mechanical excitation. We find that the output power density and conversion efficiency increase significantly when the beam thickness reduces from micro to nanoscale and flexoelectricity-based energy harvesting can be a viable alternative to piezoelectrics. Specifically, the conversion efficiency in flexoelectric transduction at sub-micron thickness levels is observed to increase by two orders of magnitude as the thickness is reduced by an order of magnitude. The flexoelectric energy harvester works even for a single layer beam with a symmetric cross section which is not possible in piezoelectric energy harvesting. Our results also pave the way for exploration of high temperature energy harvesting since unlike piezoelectricity, flexoelectricity persists well beyond the Curie temperatures of the high electromechanical coupling ferroelectrics that are often used.     

Experiments and theory in strain gradient elasticity

Conventional strain-based mechanics theory does not account for contributions from strain gradients. Failure to include strain gradient contributions can lead to underestimates of stresses and size-dependent behaviors in small-scale structures. In this paper, a new set of higher-order metrics is developed to characterize strain gradient behaviors. This set enables the application of the higher-order equilibrium conditions to strain gradient elasticity theory and reduces the number of independent elastic length scale parameters from five to three. On the basis of this new strain gradient theory, a strain gradient elastic bending theory for plane-strain beams is developed. Solutions for cantilever bending with a moment and line force applied at the free end are constructed based on the new higher-order bending theory. In classical bending theory, the normalized bending rigidity is independent of the length and thickness of the beam. In the solutions developed from the higher-order bending theory, the normalized higher-order bending rigidity has a new dependence on the thickness of the beam and on a higher-order bending parameter, b_h. To determine the significance of the size dependence, we fabricated micron-sized beams and conducted bending tests using a nanoindenter. We found that the normalized beam rigidity exhibited an inverse squared dependence on the beam's thickness as predicted by the strain gradient elastic bending theory, and that the higher-order bending parameter, b_h, is on the micron-scale. Potential errors from the experiments, model and fabrication were estimated and determined to be small relative to the observed increase in beam's bending rigidity. The present results indicate that the elastic strain gradient effect is significant in elastic deformation of small-scale structures.