Numerical modelling and experimental characterization of temperature-dependent viscoelastic effect on the ferroelastic behaviour of 1-3 piezocomposites

The objective of this work is to study the effect of viscoelastic matrix in 1-3 type piezocomposite subjected to thermo-mechanical (compressive) loading condition. Experiments are performed to understand the time-dependent (viscous) behaviour of 1-3 piezocomposites subjected to a uniaxial compressive stress applied along the fibre direction for various loading rate at an elevated ambient temperature. The measured electric displacement and longitudinal strain on piezocomposites subjected to mechanical loading, show a non-linear behaviour (ferroelastic switching). In order to predict the time-dependent behaviour, a thermodynamic based micro-mechanical model has been developed and incorporated into a 3D finite-element framework. The homogenized temperature-dependent effective properties of 1-3 piezocomposites are evaluated based on representative volume element (RVE) approach. The predicted thermo-electro-elastic effective properties are incorporated into the developed micromechanical model, and the simulated results are compared with the experimental observations. It is observed that the polymer matrix, and the elevated ambient temperature exhibit a strong influence on the time-dependent ferroelastic response of 1-3 piezocomposites.