A computational model of ferroelectric domains. Part I: model formulation and domain switching

A model for studying the domain pattern of ferroelectric materials and its evolution is developed. In a departure front prior work. the electrostatic potential is made explicit, and consequently the model is able to predict the microstructural evolution and the macroscopic behavior of ferroelectrics subjected to realistic electro-mechanical boundary conditions. Nucleation of domains and propagation of domain walls are investigated under combined electro-mechanical loading and compared to recent experiment. The correlation between the microstructural chan-e and macroscopic response provides evidence that the recently observed large strain actuation of ferroelectric materials is due to 90degrees domain switching. (C) 2004 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.