Domain switching model embedded on scaled boundary finite element method for nonlinear hysteretic behavior of ferroelectrics

Abstract

The complex nonlinear hysteretic behavior of polycrystalline ferroelectrics for higher electromechanical loads stems from the underlying microscopic domain switching. A micromechanical model embedded onto an advanced numerical framework, the scaled boundary finite element method, as applied to Voronoi-based discretization of two-dimensional ferroelectric plane is presented in this work. Each ferroelectric grain is represented by a naturally evolving random Voronoi polygon with all possible domain variants during the numerical implementation. The butterfly strain responses and the hysteresis polarization responses of ferroelectrics under various electromechanical loading conditions are simulated and compared with the experimental observations, in addition to complex polarization rotations tests.

Keywords:

• Ferroelectrics
• domain switching
• Voronoi discretization
• scaled boundary finite element method
• polarization rotation

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Mr. Mahesh A., Mr. Arun Krishna B., and Mr. Khirupasagar R. for the useful discussions during code development.