Static volume flexoelectric effect in a model of linear chains

The electric polarisation induced in a material by nonhomogenous strain is denoted as flexoelectric effect. In our model, a dielectric material is replaced by a system of parallel chains in which alternate neutral atoms, positive ions, and negative ions joined by springs with different spring constants. The flexoelectric coefficient gamma of the static volume flexoelectric effect created in the model sample by strain gradient is calculated. The expression obtained for gamma gives some hints for finding materials where the flexoelectric effect may occur and enables an estimate of its magnitude to be made. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd