Macroscopic understanding of domain switching in ferroelectric ceramics under large compressive stress

Re-analyzing the measured data of Mun et al. (J Kor Ceram Soc 57(6):684–691, 2020) gives a modified set of fitting equations on the evolutions of remnant state variables and linear material properties during compressive stress-induced domain switching in ferroelectric ceramics. Then a poled PZT ceramic specimen is subject to large compressive stress at five different loading rates. We apply the modified set of fitting equations to the responses of the ceramic specimen and calculate the evolutions of remnant state variables during domain switching. Normalizing the remnant state variables by the relative or absolute maximum values of corresponding variables at the end of loading provides a revealing insight into the process of domain switching in the materials. Finally, the loading rate independence of the relationships between relatively normalized remnant polarization and strains may lead us to a useful modeling clue for a construction of macroscopic switching equations of ferroelectric ceramics.