Growth induced flexoelectricity and buckling of dielectric materials

  • Wang, Peng (University of Jinan)
  • Morimoto, Takuya (Shimane University)

Please login to view abstract download link

We develop a theoretical framework for growth-induced flexoelectricity in dielectric materials. The growth mechanism is incorporated explicitly into the flexoelectric energy description, yielding a free-energy functional that captures growth induced electromechanical coupling, from which the governing equations are derived variationally. A von Karman beam is employed as a model to investigate growth induced flexoelectric responses and buckling behavior in both inextensible and extensible configurations. A weakly nonlinear perturbation analysis is carried out to characterize the coupled growth-flexoelectric instability and the ensuing post-buckling response. The results show that growth enhances the flexoelectric response and gives rise to a nonlinear size effect arising from the competition between flexoelectric and piezoelectric couplings. These findings provide mechanistic insight into growth-mediated flexoelectric coupling and establish a theoretical basis for controlling electromechanical responses in dielectric systems.