Finite-element modeling of PMN electrostrictive materials

J. C. Debus; B. Dubus; Michele D. McCollum; S. Black

doi:10.1117/12.237079

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26 April 1996 Finite-element modeling of PMN electrostrictive materials

J. C. Debus, B. Dubus, Michele D. McCollum, S. Black

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Proceedings Volume 2779, 3rd International Conference on Intelligent Materials and 3rd European Conference on Smart Structures and Materials; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.237079
Event: 3rd International Conference on Intelligent Materials, 1996, Lyon, France

Abstract

New electrostrictive lead magnesium niobate ceramics (PMN) are promising materials for application in the field of actuators, transducers and motors. These materials have strains roughly an order of magnitude larger than those of the lead zirconate-titanate (PZT) ceramics. This is due to PMN dielectric permittivity which is also a factor of ten or more larger than dielectric permittivity of PZT materials. However, the use of these electrostrictive materials for practical applications presents some difficulties: highly non-linear properties, temperature dependence of dielectric permittivity near the dielectric maximum, DC bias field needed. To improve the use of these electrostrictive materials, a better knowledge of the physical tensors of PMN and the development of a numerical tool are necessary. The scope of this paper is to present the development of a 2D electrostrictive element in the ATILA code for non-linear static analysis. The electrostrictive finite element is based on the assumption that the induced strain is proportional to the square of the applied electric field. The validity to the new capability is demonstrated by comparing computed strain and charge density with analytical solution and measured results for a PMN bar at various electric DC fields and mechanical prestresses.

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J. C. Debus, B. Dubus, Michele D. McCollum, and S. Black "Finite-element modeling of PMN electrostrictive materials", Proc. SPIE 2779, 3rd International Conference on Intelligent Materials and 3rd European Conference on Smart Structures and Materials, (26 April 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.237079

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