Grain-scale strain heterogeneity as a function of crystallographic texture in phase-change electro-mechanical ceramics

Abstract

A reduction in the orientation distribution of grains, via crystallographic texturing, is known to significantly enhance the electro-mechanical response in polycrystalline piezoelectrics. Through calculations of the electric-field-induced strain in phase-changing ceramics, the local strain heterogeneity was also found to increase with crystallographic texture. The increase in grain-scale strain heterogeneity potentially indicates greater stress concentrations within the polycrystal and may degrade the expected lifetime and fatigue behavior in these ceramics. In crystallographic symmetries with higher numbers of polarization directions, it was found that the magnitude of heterogeneity in the response was lower.