FEM modeling of electro-elastic field in ferroelectric crystal with domain boundaries

The parameters of ferroelectric thin layers are closely related to properties of materials from which they are made. Electric and elastic fields have large influence on important properties of discussed materials. The paper describes an application of the finite element method in modelling of electric and elastic fields in ferroelectric crystals and their influence on the shifts of domain boundaries. The boundary in ferroelectrics is idealized as two-dimensional defect in an electroelastic continuum, which represents the source of inhomogenity and internal distortion in both elastic and dielectric fields. The presented paper contains a derivation of the numerical model of the problem, based on the physical description of piezoelectric continuum, finite element formulation and some application of model.