Electro-rheological description of solids dielectrics exhibiting electrostriction

An electro-rheological model based in Voigt units which takes into consideration the variation in volume promoted by electrostriction is developed. The model was based on a mean field approximation as an averaging of the mechanical and electrical properties. The electro-rheological coupling which describes the effects of the electrical excitation on the mechanical response and the effects of the mechanical excitation on the electrical response of the dielectric is studied. In the case of an alternating electrical excitation the model reveals the appearance of harmonics in the current through the dielectric promoted by the electrostriction phenomenon. In contrast, for the case of an oscillating mechanical excitation, a current which overtakes the driving mechanical oscillation was resolved to appear. The correlation of the new model with experimental results, obtained from dynamic mechanical analysis tests conducted under high electric field, in polyamide, was found out.