A phenomenological constitutive theory for polycrystalline ferroelectric ceramics based on orientation distribution functions (Q2190098)

The authors propose a phenomenological constitutive theory for polycrystalline ferroceramics under general loading conditions. For conciseness, concentration is focused on ceramic systems with tetragonal perovskite structure below Curie temperature and subject to isothermal electromechanical loadings. Inertia, magnetic effects and mobile charges are neglected throughout. The usual thermodynamical variables of intrinsic polarization vector, and infinitesimal deformation tensor are considered, while the internal state is characterized by an orientation distribution function representing the relative fraction density of tetragonal ferroelectric domains. An adequate choice of the thermodynamical potentials allows to completely characterize the evolution of the internal state by a finite-dimensional set of internal variables representing the irreversible polarization and strain at the material point due to ferroelectric switching. The model is arranged so that both the macroscopic irreversible polarization and strain vanish for isotropic orientation distributions as expected. The proposed formulation and the resulting constitutive laws reproduce essential features of ferroelectric responses such as electric hysteresis, nonlinear stress-strain curves, butterfly loops and dipole rotation. Ferroelectric switching dissipates energy through the irreversible polarization and deformation only. For further considerations, the authors switch to the free-enthalpy density and force potential instead of the free-energy density and dissipation potential to describe material response. Numerical case studies are considered in a three-dimensional setting corresponding to common lead zirconate titanate materials, without specification of a particular material. The influence of local anisotropy is considered at a later stage.