A new electromechanical finite element is implemented in the Abaqus F.E. code. It takes into account the ferroelectric and ferroelastic behavior. It is represented by a developed phenomenological constitutive law using two internal variables (remnant ferroelastic strain and remnant polarization) and two loading surfaces (electrical and mechanical ones). Saturation phenomena and depolarization under compression mechanical loading are taken into account.
In order to lead to a more accurate description of the domain switching mechanisms, a micromechanical single-crystal ferroelectric and ferroelastic constitutive law was also developed.
The self consistent scale transition technique will be adopted to derive the polycristalline behavior. The results that were obtained by the micromechanical and phenomenological approaches will be compared in order to identify material parameters that will be introduced in the F.E. modeling.