A finite element approach for domain wall dynamics in ferroelectric materials

The field-induced domain evolution is investigated in a single-domain ferroelectric solid undergoing spontaneous polarization and polarization reorientation. Domain wall velocities have been correlated with the driving force acting on the domain interface. This boundary driving force, which depends on the local electromechanical fields and local changes of the material properties due to reorientation of the crystal structure, has been associated with Eshelby's energy momentum tensor. Finite element analysis that implements an efficient computation method for Eshelby's energy momentum tensor is developed. The domain boundary's geometry is elastically updated during the finite element computation to capture the characteristic of the domain evolution. An analytical solution for the domain interface driving force will be given by implementing Eshelby's solution for piezoelectric inclusion. The numerical results are compared to the analytical solutions to conclude the validity of this approach. Finally, the finite element computation program is used in two domain switch simulations.