Field-dependent nonlinear piezoelectricity: a focused review

This contribution presents a multidisciplinary review of the so-called field-dependent nonlinear piezoelectricity. It starts with an introduction that poses the literature analysis framework, through defining this operational (that is often met in practice) piezoelectric field-dependent nonlinearity. Indeed, the latter is a less known phenomenon although it is inherent to stress-free actuation responses of corresponding smart materials, actuators and structures. Then, related experimental observations from piezoelectric materials, actuator devices and smart structures tests are multidisciplinary surveyed for understanding the underlying mechanisms of the encountered field-dependent nonlinearity. Next, empirical material and numerical structural modelling and simulation approaches are critically reviewed from, respectively, the constitutive and finite element analysis points of view. Summary conclusions and few future directions for research are finally provided as a closure. It is worth mentioning that, although it is concise (retains only experiments and experimentally-correlated models and simulations), this critical review covers the last three decades period which is almost the whole age of the piezoelectric materials, actuators and smart structures research field.