An electromechanically coupled multiphase-field model with generalized kinetic relations for ferroelectrics

Abstract: Classical phase-field models typically use the Allen--Cahn evolution law to model interface motion as a consequence of energy-gradient descent. This implies a linear kinetic relation between the velocity of an interface (e.g., a domain wall in a ferroelectric) and its driving force. When nonlinear kinetic relations are to be modeled, as commonly found in ferroelectric ceramics, an alternative evolution law and hence an alternative model is needed. Here, we propose an electromechanically (stress-driven) coupled multiphase-field framework with a general kinetic formulation, which integrates a prescribed kinetic relation directly into the evolution law. We show that this model correctly evolves domain walls with the assigned nonlinear kinetics, e.g., of mixed exponential-power law type, following the so-called Merz--Stadler law. The multiphase formulation further enables distinct kinetic relations and interfacial energies to be assigned to different order-parameter pairs, which reflects the distinguishable properties of the different types of ferroelectric domain walls. The proposed framework is broadly applicable for simulating kinetic relations in materials with applications beyond ferroelectrics.