Abstract

We obtain a model for domain switching in piezoelectric ceramics by assuming the body as a piezoelectric continua endowed with a microstructure. We identify the microstructure kinematical descriptors with two quantities which depend on the electric dipole moment and then, by means of  macro- and microstructural balance laws and dissipation inequality, we arrive at the constitutive relations and evolution equation for the microstructure. We give  linearized equations for small deformation, electric field and electric dipole moment; then we show how the constitutive relations and rate-laws proposed by P.J. Chen and co-workers  can be recovered within our approach.