Abstract

The flexoelectric effect is very strong for nanosized dielectrics. Moreover, on the nanoscale, surface effects and the electrostatic force cannot be ignored. In this paper, an electric enthalpy variational principle for nanosized dielectrics is proposed concerning with the flexoelectric effect, the surface effects and the electrostatic force. Here, the surface effects contain the effects of both surface stress and surface polarization. From this variational principle, the governing equations and the generalized electromechanical Young–Laplace equations are derived and can account for the effects of flexoelectricity, surface and the electrostatic force. Moreover, based on this variational principle, both the generalized bulk and surface electrostatic stresses can be obtained and are composed of two parts: the Maxwell stress corresponding to the polarization and strain and the remainder relating to the polarization gradient and the strain gradient. The theory developed in this paper provides the underlying framework for the analyses and computational solutions of electromechanical problems in nanodielectrics.