Damage model for ferroelectric materials and its applications to multilayer actuators

In this paper a damage model for ferroelectric materials is presented. It is implemented in terms of a user element in the commercial FEM-code Abaqus. The model is based on micromechanical considerations of domain switching and its interaction with microcrack growth and coalescence. Finite element analysis of a multilayer actuator is performed, showing principal stresses leading to crack initiation and damage of the actuator. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Phase field modeling of domain evolution in ferroelectric materials in the context of size effects

Phase field modeling provides an efficient tool for the study of domain evolution in ferroelectric materials. Such models naturally introduce an inner length scale which represents the width of the interfaces between domains (domain walls). This inner length scale is of the order of a few unit cells, i.e. about 0.8 nm–2 nm. The focus of this contribution is on size effects in a) the switching behavior of ferroelectric thin films and b) the microstructure evolution in ferroelectric nanodots. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A hybrid element formulation for electromechanical problems

The difficulty in the modeling of ferroelectric materials is the coverage of the complicated interactions between electrical and mechanical quantities on the macroscale, which are caused by switching processes on the microscale. In the present work we present an electric hybrid element formulation where the stresses and the electric fields are derived by constitutive relations as presented in [1]. Therefore the displacements, the electric potential and the electric displacements are approximated by bilinear ansatz functions. Applying a static condensation procedure we obtain a modified finite element formulation governed by the degrees of freedoms associated to the displacements and the electric potential. The anisotropic material behavior is modeled within a coordinate-invariant formulation [6] for an assumed transversely isotropic material [4]. In this context a general return algorithm is applied to compute the remanent quantities at the actual timestep. Resulting hysteresis loops for the ferroelectric ceramics are presented. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Fracture toughness investigations of ferroelectric materials considering effects on macro- and micro-scale

In the present work we study toughness variation of ferroelectric materials (PZT-5H) considering different scales for different poling and loading conditions. On the macro-scale we apply an extended theory of stresses at interfaces in dielectric solids. Further, on the micro-scale, nonlinear effects are introduced by applying the small scale switching approximation. The analysis is done considering the full anisotropy and electromechanical coupling of the material. (© 2012 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Modelling of cracks on different scales in ferroelectric materials

In this work we study contributions to the effective fracture toughness of ferroelectric materials arising from effects on macroscopic and mesoscopic scales of the system. On the macroscopic scale, the crack in a ferroelectric material is modeled taking into account an extended theory of stresses at interfaces in dielectric solids [1-3]. We predict several new effects, such as the “poling effect”, “collinear effect” and the coupling of a Mode-II shear loading and the Mode-I SIF. Further, on the mesoscopic scale, we study the influence of polarization switching limited to the fracture process zone (small scale switching) on the fracture toughness. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Computational characterization of magneto-electric composites: the role of ferroelectric pre-polarization

The interaction between electric and magnetic fields enables smart devices which can find applications in sensor technology and data storage. Materials showing magneto-electric (ME) coupling combine different ferroic characteristics. In the present contribution we focus on composites, which combine ferroelectric and ferromagnetic phases due to strain couplings, such that they generate a strain-induced ME coupling. We derive a two-scale homogenization approach for the determination of effective properties in consideration of microscopic morphologies. Furthermore, we demonstrate the strong influence of ferroelectric polarization states on the ME-coefficient by modeling the switching of remanent polarizations on the microscale. (© 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Phase-field simulation of the electro-mechanical response of ferroelectrics during Piezoresponse Force Microscopy

The contribution adresses the simulation of ferroelectric matrials in the framework of the Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM). Based on the PFM, ferroelectric domain structures can be analyzed in great detail by measuring the electrically induced mechanical deformations of the surface of a ferroelectric. We employ a flexible continuum-mechanical model based on the phase-field method in order to analyze the behavior of ferroelectric microstructures numerically. Since ferroelectric materials are often highly anisotropic, the phase-field formulation will account for transversely isotropic symmetry. (© 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Computational characterization of ferroelectric solids with a 3D Preisach model based on an orientation distribution function

Ferroelectric or ferromagnetic materials show an interaction between mechanical deformations and polarization or magnetization. A few multiferroic materials possess both ferroic properties and exhibit a magneto-electric (ME) coupling. These ME properties can be achieved in two-phase composites, which combine ferroelectric and ferromagnetic characteristics. To predict a realistic material behavior and a more precise ME coefficient, the application of suitable material models which describe the nonlinear hysteretic behavior is of particular importance. In the present contribution we focus on the characterization of a nonlinear ferroelectric material behavior, in terms of a 3D Preisach model based on an orientation distribution function. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Analysis of contact stresses in structural joints of composite shell with steel banding

Based on the generalized Timoshenko-type shell theory, a numerical-analytical procedure for determining contact stresses from the interaction between a cylindrical composite shell and rigid bandings is proposed. Specific cases of loading and contact interaction (ideal contact through an adhesive interlayer) are considered. The contact problems are reduced to the solution of a Fredholm integral equation of the second-kind. A calculation analysis is performed. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 109–120, January–February, 2000.     

Modeling of electrodynamic-mechanical coupling phenomena in smart magnetoelectroelastic materials

The coupling of electric, magnetic and mechanical phenomena may have various reasons. The famous Maxwell equations of electrodynamics describe the interaction of transient magnetic and electric fields. On the constitutive level of dielectric materials, coupling mechanisms are manyfold comprising piezoelectric, magnetostrictive or magnetoelectric effects. Electromagnetically induced specific forces acting at the boundary and within the domain of a dielectric body are, within a continuum mechanics framework, commonly denoted as Maxwell stresses. In transient electromagnetic fields, the Poynting vector gives another contribution to mechanical stresses. First, a system of transient partial differential equations is presented. Introducing scalar and vector potentials for the electromagnetic fields and representing the mechanical strain by displacement fields, seven coupled differential equations govern the boundary value problem, accounting for linear constitutive equations of magnetoelectroelasticity. To reduce the effort of numerical solution, the system of equations is partly decoupled applying generalized forms of Coulomb and Lorenz gauge transformations [1,2]. A weak formulation is given to establish a basis for a finite element solution. The influence of constitutive magnetoelectric coupling on electromagnetic wave propagation is finally demonstrated with a simple one-dimensional example. (© 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Molecular statics simulations of ferroelectric nanofilms

Smart materials are of great interest not only for scientific, but also for technological reasons due to ongoing miniaturization and rapid developments in manufacturing technologies of nanocomponents [1]. Therefore, simulations on the nanometer length scale are becoming more important in order to fundamentally understand and predict the complex material behavior of ferroelectric nanocomponents, such as ferroelectric nanofilms or nanowires. We apply a previously developed extended molecular statics algorithm [2] to simulate ferroelectric barium titanate nanofilms. The algorithm is able to also consider mechanical stress explicitly whereas most molecular simulations of ferroelectrics are restricted to NVT-ensembles. We simulate a stress relaxed ultra thin barium titanate film and apply compressive strain in order to investigate size effects of ferroelectric nanofilms. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Stress distribution caused by two neighboring out-of-plane locally cophasally curved fibers in a composite material

In the present paper, within the framework of a piecewise homogenous body model, with the use of the exact three-dimensional equations of elasticity theory, a method proposed earlier is developed for investigating the stress distribution caused by two neighboring out-of-plane locally cophasally curved fibers located along two parallel planes in an infinite elastic body. The body is loaded at infinity by uniformly distributed normal forces in the direction of fiber location. The self-equilibrated normal and shear stresses caused by the curved fibers are analyzed, and the influences of interaction between the fibers and of the geometric nonlinearity on the distribution of these stresses are studied. Numerical results for this interaction are obtained.     

Influence of initial stresses on fracture of composite materials containing interacting cracks

Considered in this study are the axially-symmetric problems of fracture of composite materials with interacting cracks, which are subjected to initial (residual) stresses acting along the cracks planes. An analytical approach within the framework of three-dimensional linearized mechanics of solids is used. Two geometric schemes of cracks location are studied: a circular crack is located parallel to the surface of a semi-infinite composite with initial stresses, and two parallel co-axial penny-shaped cracks are contained in an infinite composite material with initial stresses. The cracks are assumed to be under a normal or a radial shear load. Analysis involves reducing the problems to systems of second-kind Fredholm integral equations, where the solutions are identified with harmonic potential functions. Representations of the stress intensity factors near the cracks edges are obtained. These stress intensity factors are influenced by the initial stresses. The presence of the free boundary and the interaction between cracks has a significant effect on the stress intensity factors as well. The parameters of fracture for two types of composites (a laminar composite made of aluminum/boron/silicate glass with epoxy-maleic resin and a carbon/plastic composite with stochastic reinforcement by short ellipsoidal carbon fibers) are analyzed numerically. The dependence of the stress intensity factors on the initial stresses, physical-mechanical parameters of the composites, and the geometric parameters of the problem are investigated.     

A tetragonal switching model for ferroelectric materials

In this work a tetragonal material model for ferroelectric materials including a microscopically motivated switching criterion is presented. The resulting formulation is able to describe ferroelectric switching effects on a microscopic scale under consideration of the natural tetragonal structure of the ferroelectric material. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

An alternative formulation of the boundary element method

The paper suggests an alternative formulation of the Boundary Element Method, in which singular solutions generated by unit dislocations are required and moreover the stresses at the interior points of the body are directly computed from the boundary quantities, without passing through the displacements. Relationships between the singular solutions for unit dislocation and unit force are derived.     

Application of Homogenization FEM Analysis to Aluminum Honeycomb Core Filled with Polymer Foams

The effect of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam filler on elastic properties of a regular hexagonal aluminum honeycomb core is studied. The unit cell strain energy homogenization approach based on the finite element method (FEM) within ABAQUS code is applied for prediction of effective material constants of the foam-filled honeycomb core. The developed FE model is then used to observe a three-dimensional stress state over the hexagonal unit cell and, thereby, to assess the influence of the foam-filling on the distribution of the local interfacial stresses. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Point defect interaction in tranversally isotropic ferroelectrics

Functional materials, especially ferroelectrics are used in many devices like actuators, sensors and electronic devices. Due to high amounts of mechanical and electrical load cycles, fatigue phenomena may occur. This so called electric fatigue causes a decrease of the electromechanical coupling capability. It is assumed, that the ability to switch polarisation states, which is the reason for the ferroelectric effect, is decreased in the presence of point defects. These defects are ionic and electronic charge carriers, which can interact with each other, with microstructural elements in the bulk and with interfaces. Accumulation of defects can primarily lead to degradation, because of the loss of polarisation switchability. The interaction of defects in the bulk is simulated to get a better understanding of the defect accumulation processes. A model based on configurational forces can be used to obtain thermodynamic consistent kinetic laws. The material used is transversally isotropic and modelled with linear electromechanical coupling. The focus is on the influence of this material anisotropy on the defect interaction. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

畴极化转动对多晶铁电材料断裂特性的影响

主要基于细观力学方法揭示了畴极化转动对多晶铁电陶瓷的各向异性断裂特性的平均影响。首先,用Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka理论和统计模型分析了无穷大铁电材料体中一椭球夹杂的内、外电弹性场,得到畴极化转动对电弹性场的平均影响;其次,推导了等效多晶铁电陶瓷中含一钱币状裂纹的裂纹扩展力(能量释放率)G_ext,并用它估计了畴极化转动对多晶铁电陶瓷断裂特性的影响。对BaTiO₃陶瓷中裂纹扩展力的计算结果表明,对多晶铁电材料断裂特性分析必须考虑畴极化转动的影响。计算结果得出了与实验相一致的结论:在受较小的力时,外加电场对裂纹扩展产生较大的影响,而且在某种程度上能促进了裂纹扩展。