Subproject C3

The polarization as a necessary process step for activating the electromechanical coupling of piezoceramic materials is to be investigated and interpreted for the manufacturing chains that have been considered in the transregio. Especially the conditions for the application-compatible setting of the actuator and sensor functions of the piezoceramics in material composites are explored. That means, the mechanically initial stress, the working point in the power-path diagram, the structural coupling coefficient and the initial defect population.
The available knowledge about polarization, depolarization deformation behavior of ferroelectric ceramics, especially referring to mechanically unclamped components, delivers a proper basic understanding for the tasks assigned. However, this knowledge is insufficient for the production of active material composites. In particular, the knowledge about material behavior in combined electrical, mechanical and thermal loads, like they occur during the production of active structural components, is insufficient. The superordinated long-term aim is the working out of experimental and theoretical methods to design the polarization technology for the high-volume-compatible production of adaptive structural components.
The sub-task of the working program includes the classification of commercial piezoceramics with regard to the polarization and deformation behavior, the working-out of diagrams on defects for the forming and damaging processes during the polarization and forming, the development of an FE-model to describe the material behaviour under a combined load as well as the working-out of design and manufacturing commendations for the functional optimization of adaptive structural components. This significantly contributes to the overall research project on implementing a high-volume-compatible production of active structural components (A2, A5, B3).