Micromechanical analysis of ferroelectric structures by a phase field method

A continuum phase field model for polarization and domain structure evolution in ferroelectric materials is presented along with its 2D implementation in the finite element method. A thermodynamically consistent constitutive law and evolution equations are obtained by introducing the spontaneous polarization as an order parameter and including configurational forces in the thermodynamic analysis. Numerical examples are given for microstructure evolution and the mesoscopic response of the material, and electro-mechanical fields of a ferroelectric stack actuator are calculated. Comparisons with experimental measurements and phenomena show good agreement.