A thermodynamic consistent model for an assumed transversely isotropic piezoceramic with nonlinear ferroelectric hysteresis

A characteristic feature of ferroelectric crystals is the appearance of a spontaneous polarisation, where its direction can be reversed by an applied electric field. This quantity, that has a maximum value at high electric‐fields, depends on the loading history of the material. In this paper we discuss a thermodynamic consistent phenomenological model for an assumed transversely isotropic ferroelectric crystal, where the history dependency is modelled by internal variables. The anisotropic behaviour is governed by isotropic tensor functions, depending on a finite set of invariants, that satisfy automatically the symmetry relationships of the considered body. The main goal of this investigation is to capture some characteristics of nonlinear ferroelectrica, such as the polarisation‐electric‐field and the strain‐electric‐field (butterfly) hysteresis loops. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Simulation of polycrystalline ferroelectrics based on discrete orientation distribution functions

Ferroelectric materials exhibit a spontaneous polarization, which can be reversed by an applied electric field of sufficient magnitude. The resulting nonlinearities are expressed by characteristic dielectric and butterfly hysteresis loops. These effects are correlated to the structure of the crystal and especially to the axis of spontaneous polarization in case of single crystals. We start with a representative meso scale, where the domains consist of unit cells with equal spontaneous polarization. Each domain is modeled within a coordinate invariant formulation for an assumed transversely isotropic material as presented in [10], in this context see also [8]. In this investigation we obtain the macroscopic polycrystalline quantities via a simple homogenization procedure, where discrete orientation distribution functions are used to approximate the different domains. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A 1D constitutive law for hysteresis effects in piezoceramics

This paper is concerned with a macroscopic constitutive law for domain switching effects, which occur in piezoelectric ceramics. The thermodynamical framework of the law is based on two scalar valued functions: the Helmholtz free energy and a switching surface. In common usage, the remanent polarization and the remanent strain are employed as internal variables. The novel aspect of the present work is to introduce an irreversible electric field, which serves besides the irreversible strain as internal variable. The irreversible electric field has only theoretical meaning, but leads to advantages within the finite element implementation, where displacement and the electric potential are the nodal degrees of freedoms. A common assumption is a one-to-one relation between the irreversible strain and the polarization. This simplification is not employed in the present paper. To accomplish enough space for the polarization, resulting from an applied electric field, the irreversible strains are additively split and a special hardening function is introduced. This balances the amount of space and the domain switching due to polarization. The constitutive model reproduces the ferroelastic and the ferroelectric hysteresis as well as the butterfly hysteresis for piezoelectric ceramics and it accounts for the mechanical depolarization effect. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A laminate-based modelling approach for rate-dependent switching in ferroelectric materials

This contribution focuses on the sequential laminate-based modelling approach for the numerical simulation of the complex electromechanical material behaviour of ferroelectric single crystals. The construction of engineered domain configurations by using the method of sequential lamination in order to study the domain evolution and polarisation switching in ferroelectric single crystals has recently been carried out in the works of [1–4]. By fulfilling the kinematic and polarisation compatibility conditions between the domain structures in a crystal, the proposed laminate-based formulation is governed by an energy-enthalpy function and by a dissipation potential. The mixed energy-enthalpy, written in terms of the total strains, electric field and a set of internal variables, here the multi-rank laminate volume fractions, governs the dissipative electromechanical response of the ferroelectric crystal, whereas the rate-dependent dissipation potential formulated in terms of the flux of the internal variables describes the time-dependent evolution of the multi-rank laminate volume fractions, subjected to inequality constraints. The model reproduces experimentally observed hysteresis and butterfly curves, characteristic for single crystal ferroelectric materials, when subjected to homogeneous electromechanical loading conditions. (© 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A phenomenological constitutive model for magnetostrictive materials and ferroelectric ceramics

The contribution is concerned with a thermodynamic consistent constitutive model for magnetostrictive materials and ferroelectric ceramics. It captures the nonlinear phenomenological behavior which is described by hysteresis effects. Magnetostrictive alloys and ferroelectric ceramics belong to the multifunctional materials. In recent years these materials have become widely–used in actor and sensor applications. They characterize an inherent coupling between deformation and magnetic or electric field. Due to the similarities of the coupled differential equations a uniform approach is applied for both phenomena. The presented three–dimensional material model is thermodynamically motivated. It is based on the definition of a specific free energy function and a switching criterion. Furthermore an additive split of strain and the magnetic or electric field in a reversible and an irreversible part is suggested. The irreversible quantities serve as internal variables, which is analog to plasticity theory. A one–to–one–relation between the two internal variables provides conservation of volume for the irreversible strains. The presented material model can approximate the ferromagnetic or ferroelectric hysteresis curve and the related butterfly hysteresis. Furthermore an extended approach for ferrimagnetic behavior, which occurs in magnetostrictive materials, is presented. Some numerical simulations demonstrate the capability of the presented model. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Phase field simulations on the interaction of ferroelectric domains with point defects

One of the suspected micro-mechanical mechanisms causing electric fatigue in ferroelectric materials is the hindering and blocking of domain wall movement. These blocking or pinning phenomena are thought to be due to point defects which interact with domain walls and applied external loads. A phase field model employing the spontaneous polarization as an order parameter is used to simulate the inhomogeneous material behavior. The coupled field equations are solved using the Finite Element Method. The influence of a stationary point defect on a domain wall is shown in a numerical simulation. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Theory and Numerics of Rate-Dependent Incremental Variational Formulations in Ferroelectricity

This paper is concerned with macroscopic continuous and discrete variational formulations for domain switching effects at small strains, which occur in ferroelectric ceramics. The developed new three–dimensional model is thermodynamically–consistent and determined by two scalar–valued functions: the energy storage function (Helmholtz free energy) and the dissipation function, which is in particular rate–dependent. The constitutive model successfully reproduces the ferroelastic and the ferroelectric hysteresis as well as the butterfly hysteresis for ferroelectric ceramics. The rate–dependent character of the dissipation function allows us also to reproduce the experimentally observed rate dependency of the above mentioned hysteresis phenomena. An important aspect is the numerical implementation of the coupled problem. The discretization of the two–field problem appears, as a consequence of the proposed incremental variational principle, in a symmetric format. The performance of the proposed methods is demonstrated by means of a benchmark problem. (© 2008 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)     

Phase field simulations in ferroelectric materials

The hindering of domain wall movement by defects in ferroelectric materials is closely connected to electric fatigue. A movable domain wall in a ferroelectric material in most cases is modelled as a singular surface which allows the use of configurational forces. In contrast, the present approach treats the polarization as an order parameter, extending the total energy by a phase separation energy and a domain wall energy. The polarization then no longer has a discontinuity at the domain wall but is a continuous vector field (phase field). As an example, a numerical simulation of domain evolution under stress free boundary conditions is presented. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Nonlinear Piezoelectric Effects Including Minor Hystereses

Piezoelectric ceramics are often used in active structures for shape and vibration control. Since the operation range is not limited to small signals the nonlinear behaviour of the actuator under high electric loads has to be known. There are several approaches in literature to model the hysteretic effects, each having its assets and drawbacks. When a model is able to reproduce the minor loops of the strain - electric field hysteresis, it often lacks the consideration of stress dependence which is fundamental for actuators attached to elastic structures. On the other hand constitutive models which take into account all ferroelectric and ferroelastic effects are not capable of representing the minor hystereses in acceptable calculation times. In this work a phenomenological constitutive model is verified using the experimental data of an active plate structure. Therefore, the ceramic is characterised under mechanically unconstrained conditions and afterwards attached onto a steel plate. The bonding to the substructure leads to a mechanical stress depending on the actuation state of the ceramic. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Simulation of domain structures in cracked ferroelectric materials

The domain structure around a crack tip plays a significant role in the fracture behavior of ferroelectrics. A continuum phase field model is used to investigate the microstructure at the crack front. The concept of the Eshelby momentum tensor and configurational forces is then generalized to account for the contributions of the polarization term. Implementation of the generalized configurational force in the Finite Element code enables us to numerically obtain the driving force at the crack tip, which corresponds to the crack-tip energy release rate. Calculations show that additional positive electric fields tend to prohibit crack growth, whereas additional negative electric fields tend to promote crack growth. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Toughening effect of ferroelectric ceramics induced by domain switching and dislocations

The multi-scale analysis of fracture toughness of ferroelectric ceramics under complicate mechanical–electrical coupling effect is carried out in this paper. The generalized stress intensity factor (SIF) arising from spontaneous strains and polarization transformation in switching domain zones is accurately obtained by using an extended Eshelby theory. Taking BaTiO₃ ferroelectric ceramic for example, it is discovered that the crack propagation can be induced by domain switching arising from negative electrical field when the crack surface is parallel to the isotropic plane, and the obtained critical electric displacement intensity factor (EDIF) approximates closely to that obtained by the Green’s function method. Additionally, as pinning dislocations and slip dislocations can strongly influence properties of ferroelectric devices and induce the property degradation, it is necessary to investigate the dislocation toughening effects on fatigue and fracture mechanisms. The results show that the dislocation shielding and anti-shielding effects on mode II SIF, mode I SIF and EDIF are obviously different when a dislocation locates at a position near the crack tip. Through the calculation of the critical applied EDIF for crack propagation by using mechanical energy release rate (MERR) theory, it is discovered that the slip angles obviously influence fracture toughness, and the mode II SIF arising from dislocation has little influence on fracture toughness, however, the mode I SIF and EDIF arising from dislocation have great influences on fracture toughness.     

Variational Homogenization of Micro-Electro-Elasticity

Understanding of micromechanical mechanisms in functional materials with electro-mechanical coupling is a highly demanding area of simulation technology and increasing interest has been shown in the last decades. Smart materials are characterized by microstructural properties, which can be changed by external stress and electric field stimuli, and hence find use as the active components in sensors and actuators. In this context, a key challenge is to combine models for microscopic electric domain evolution with variational principles of homogenization. We outline a variational-based micro-electro-elastic model for the micro-structural evolution of electric domains in ferroelectric ceramics. The micro-to-macro transition is performed on the basis of variational principles, extending purely mechanical formulations to coupled electro-mechanics. We focus on an electro-mechanical Boltzmann continuum on the macro-scale with mechanical displacement and electric potential as primary variables. The material model on the micro-scale is described by a gradient-extended continuum formulation taking into account the polarization vector field and its gradient, see Landis [1] and Schrade et al. [2] for conceptually similar approaches. A crucial aspect of the proposed homogenization analysis is the derivation of appropriate boundary conditions on the surface of the representative volume element. In this work we derive stiff Dirichlet-type, soft Neumann-type, and periodic boundary constraints starting from a generalized Hill-Mandel macrohomogeneity condition. Furthermore, we propose techniques to incorporate these boundary conditions in the variational principles of homogenization by means of Lagrange multiplier methods. (© 2012 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A condensed microelectromechanical constitutive and damage model for tetragonal ferroelectrics

A condensed model for ferroelectric solids with tetragonal unit cells is presented. The approach is microelectromechanically and physically motivated, considering discrete switching processes on the level of unit cells and quasi-continuous evolution of inelastic fields on the domain wall level. To calculate multiple grain interactions an interaction tensor is introduced. Hysteresis loops are simulated for pure electric and electromechanical loading, demonstrating e.g. the influence of a compressive preload on the poling process and interaction between statistically arranged crystallits. The residual stresses and the corresponding principle stresses are used to simulate fatigue damage in ferroelectric materials. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

On diffraction in a piezoelectric medium by a half-plane: The Sommerfeld problem

This paper is concerned with the diffraction problem in a transversely isotropic piezoelectric medium by a half-plane. The half-plane obstacle considered here is a semi-infinite slit, or a crack; both its surfaces are traction free and electric absorbent screens. In a generalized sense, we are dealing with the Sommerfeld problem in a piezoelectric medium.¶The coupled diffraction fields between acoustic wave and electric wave are excited by both incident acoustic wave as well as incident electric wave; and the sound soft and electric "blackness" conditions on the screens are characterized by a system of simultaneous Wiener-Hopf equations. Closed form solutions are sought by employing special techniques. Some interesting results have been obtained, such as mode conversions between acoustic wave and electric wave, novel diffraction patterns in the scattering fields, and the effect of electroacoustic head wave, as well as of surface wave-Bleustein-Gulyaev wave.¶Unlike the classical Sommerfeld problem, in which the only concern is the scattering field of electric wave, the strength of material, e.g. material toughness, is another concern here. From this perspective, relevant dynamic field intensity factors at the crack tip are derived explicitly.     

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。     

A single domain grain model for the low-field constricted hysteresis loops of some basaltic rocks

Basaltic rocks contain magnetic grains oriented randomly in a nonmagnetic matrix. Experimental studies of low-field hysteresis of such rocks have shown partially and totally constricted hysteresis loops for some specimens. A possible origin of these constricted loops on the basis of interacting single domain behaviour is suggested.     

A Finite Element Formulation for the Nonlinear Analysis of Piezoelectric Three-Dimensional Beam Structures

A finite element formulation for a three-dimensional piezoelectric beam which includes geometrical and material nonlinearities is presented. To account for the piezoelectric effect, the coupling between the mechanical stress and the electrical displacement is considered. Based on the Timoshenko theory, an eccentric beam formulation is introduced which provides an efficient model to analyze piezoelectric structures. The geometrically nonlinear assumption allows the calculation of large deformations including buckling analysis. A quadratic approximation of the electric potential through the cross section of the beam ensures the fulfilment of the charge conservation law exactly. This assumption leads to a finite element formulation with six mechanical and five electrical degrees of freedom per node. To take into account the typical ferroelectric hysteresis phenomena, a nonlinear material model is essential. For this purpose, the phenomenological Preisach model is implemented into the beam formulation which provides an efficient determination of the remanent part of the polarization. The applicability of the introduced beam formulation is discussed with respect to available data from literature. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)