Hysteresis behavior of ferroelectric fiber composites

The modeling of the nonlinear behavior of multiphase materials with ferroelectric phases is accomplished via an incremental micromechanical analysis that is based on the homogenization technique for composites with periodic microstructure. The representation of the monolithic ferroelectric material is based on recently developed nonlinear constitutive equations. The resulting nonlinear global constitutive relations that govern the hysteresis behavior of ferroelectric composites are implemented to study the response of a polymeric matrix with embedded piezoceramic fibers. The responses of this composite to a complete cycle of electric field which is acting in the fiber direction, in conjunction with constant normal tensile and compressive stresses that are applied in the axial and transverse directions, as well as applied transverse shear and axial shear stresses, are shown.