Open Access

ARTICLE

On the Modelling of Rate-Dependent Domain Switching in Piezoelectric Materials under Superimposed Stresses

by A. Arockiarajan¹, A. Menzel²

1 Department of Applied Mechanics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, 600036 Chennai, India
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Mechanics and Control Engineering, Chair of Continuum Mechanics, University of Siegen, Germany

Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2007, 19(2), 163-178. https://doi.org/10.3970/cmes.2007.019.163

Abstract

To study rate-dependent properties of piezoelectric materials a micro-mechanically motivated model is applied in this work. The developed framework is embedded into a coupled three-dimensional finite element setting, whereby each element is assumed to represent one grain and, moreover, possesses a random initialisation of the underlying polarisation direction. Furthermore, an energy-based criterion is used for the initiation of the onset of domain switching and the subsequent propagation of domain wall motion during the switching process is modelled via a linear kinetics theory. The interaction between individual grains is thereby incorporated by means of a probabilistic approach -- a purely phenomenologically motivated concept. To study the overall bulk ceramics behaviour, straightforward volume-averaging techniques are applied. In addition, rate-dependent properties under cyclic electrical loading combined with mechanical loads at various frequencies are studied, whereby use of a so-called volume fraction concept is made. The proposed model provides further insights into rate-dependent behaviour as experimentally observed and reported in the literature.

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