Hysteretic Behavior Research Articles

Experimental and numerical investigation of austenitic stainless steel (304 type) slit damper structural behavior

Carbon steel dampers have been applied for the seismic retrofitting of new and existing building structures. Experimental and numerical studies on the seismic response characteristics and reinforcement effects of applying stainless steel for the seismic retrofitting of building structures were recently conducted in the United States and Europe. Owing to its superior corrosion resistance, durability, sustainability, and fire resistance compared to carbon steel, austenitic steel is widely used as a structural material. In this study, experiments and numerical analyzes were performed to investigate the structural behavior and energy dissipation capacity of austenitic stainless steel slit dampers. The material test results show that austenitic stainless steel (STS304) underwent noticeable strength enhancement after yielding under cyclic loading compared to steel under monotonic tensile loading. The ultimate strength of the specimens also tended to increase in each cycle due to the cyclic hardening effect. A finite element (FE) analysis model was developed to predict the hysteretic behaviors of stainless steel dampers based on the cyclic material test results. The validity of the FE analysis model was verified through comparison with the test results and stress and strain distribution on critical section were discussed. In addition, the hysteretic behavior of the single story frame with chevron brace and stainless steel slit damper was investigated and compared with that of carbon steel damper.

Cyclic behavior of a web hourglass-shaped pin damper made of low-yield-strength steel: Experimental and numerical analyses

Web hourglass-shaped pins fabricated from low-yield-strength steel (LYSWHPs) can be utilized as energy dissipation (ED) components in the connections of steel structures to effectively enhance ED and reduce damage to the primary structural components under intense earthquakes. First, quasi-static tests were carried out on three LYSWHP specimens made of LY225 steel; when bolted to its supporting plate, each exhibited a stable, suitable hysteretic response, excellent ED capacity, high ductility factor of 5.01–9.55, and excellent plastic deformation. Axial force effects and large plastic strains significantly increased the strengths of the LYSWHPs, with the maximum overstrength factor reaching 2.36. A finite-element analysis model was established in ABAQUS and confirmed against the behaviors of the test specimens to perform parametric analyses on individual and group LYSWHP models. The results demonstrated that the shape of the LYSWHP significantly affects its load-carrying capacity, ED capacity, and failure mode; the shape factor and slenderness ratio of the ED segment should be within 0.375–0.75 and 2.75–4.25, respectively, to ensure the desired behavior. The number of LYSWHPs, supporting plate thickness, and LYSWHP shape significantly affect the hysteretic behavior of an LYSWHP group. When the supporting plate provides strong restraint, the ED capacity and ductility of each LYSWHP is fully developed, all cumulative damage is concentrated within the LYSWHPs while the supporting and loading plates remain elastic, and the group will exhibit ductile failure. The findings of this study provide reference for the practical application of LYSWHPs in building structures.

Temperature-dependency of hysteretic sorption in hygrothermal modelling of wood fibreboard sheathing: analysis of exterior wall laboratory experiments

Wood is known for its temperature-dependent and hysteretic sorption behaviour. Several hysteresis models can be found from the literature, but the temperature-dependency of sorption especially in cold temperatures has received less attention. In this paper, we show experimental results for low-density fibreboard, which can be obtained with relatively inexpensive equipment and used for constructing temperature-dependent EMC function. The results were applied in the numerical analyses of a previous laboratory experiment involving an exterior wall with an LDF layer as sheathing. The optimal parameters for hysteresis models were determined by the least-squares data fitting approach. Our conclusion is that both the temperature-dependency and hysteresis in sorption behaviour must be included and with proper model parameters in the hygrothermal model in order to obtain satisfactory results when modelling LDF sheathing in a cold climate. Existing literature related to these aspects in hygrothermal modelling is scarce, and more experimental and computational research is needed.

Seismic behaviour of FRP-concrete-steel double-tube columns with shear studs: Experimental study and numerical modelling

FRP-concrete-steel double-tube columns (i.e., double-tube concrete columns or DTCCs) are a novel type of structural members composed of two concentrically-placed tubes (i.e., an outer FRP tube and an inner steel tube) with all the space inside the two tubes filled with concrete. Shear studs on the inner steel tube are recommended to increase the composite action when DTCCs are subjected to large bending moments. The optimized section configuration of DTCCs allow the three constituent materials in the columns to deliver their respective advantages and to avoid their respective shortcomings. The limited existing studies on DTCCs have been focused on their compressive behavior. These studies have demonstrated the excellent ductility of DTCCs, an important advantage for their potential applications in regions with seismic risk. However, the seismic behaviour of DTCCs has not been systematically investigated. Against this background, this paper presents a combined experimental and numerical study on the seismic behaivour of DTCCs, where the experimental part included a series of large-scale DTCCs tested under combined cyclic lateral loading and constant vertical compression, while the numerical part included the development of a finite element model incorporating beam-column elements and specific stress-strain models to consider the unique behaivour of the two parts of concrete in DTCCs (i.e., the concrete core inside the inner steel tube and the concrete ring between the two tubes). The experimental results revealed that: (1) the increase of FRP thickness had a positive effect on their hysteretic behavior; (2) when the steel ratio was constant, the peak lateral load of DTCCs increased with the steel tube diameter; (3) the concrete core not only enhanced the lateral load capacity and the ductility of DTCCs, but also provided efficient suppression on the buckling of the steel tube. The numerical model, established using the OpenSees platform, is able to provide reasonably accurate predictions of the hysteretic behaviour of all specimens.

Effects of interface conditions on tribological and hysteretic behaviors of symmetric friction connections

The symmetric friction connection (SFC), a type of slotted-bolt connection, is widely employed to dissipate seismic energy in earthquake-resistant structures. Quasi-static tests were conducted on seven SFCs to investigate effects of various interface conditions on tribological and hysteretic behaviors of the SFCs. The friction pair in focus is composed of high-hardness abrasion-resistant steel (Bisalloy 450) and mild steel (Q355B). The test results reveal that hysteretic behavior of the SFC is highly influenced by interface pressure and shot blasting for their significant effects on wear mechanisms. In this study, abrasive wear, adhesive wear and oxidation wear coexist in the process of dry sliding friction. A critical interface pressure of 42.1 MPa is recommended to achieve desirable tribological and hysteretic behaviors of the SFC. The SFC can efficiently recover its strength by removing wear products from the contact surfaces and then reapplying the bolt clamping force, indicating good repairability. Furthermore, in the presence of impurities on contact surfaces, using a rotary wire brush machine is advisable for surface preparation instead of employing shot blasting treatment. These insights and recommendations provide valuable guidance for engineers and practitioners, aiding them in improving the design process to achieve favorable seismic behavior of the SFC in seismic-resistant structures.

Effects of Embedded Expanded Polystyrene Boards on the Hysteretic Behavior of Innovative Precast Braced Concrete Shear Walls

An innovative type of precast braced concrete shear (PBCS) wall has been tested and verified to have comparable shear resistances relative to conventional cast-in-place reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls. The triangular or rectangular embedded expanded polystyrene (EPS) boards in PBCS wall panels can not only considerably reduce concrete use but also reduce the structural weight. To understand the functions of EPS boards in more depth, this paper investigates the effects of the thickness ratio of different shapes of EPS on the hysteretic behaviors of PBCS walls with various shear span ratios (SSRs). The finite element (FE) models of PBCS walls based on the multi-layer shell element are developed and verified to be sufficiently accurate in comparison with the experimental results. The analysis results indicate that the bearing capacity, lateral stiffness and ductility of PBCS walls show a downward trend with the increase in the thickness ratio of EPS boards. The rectangular EPS board has a more pronounced effect on weight reduction as well as concrete use reduction compared to the triangular EPS board under the same thickness ratio. The formulations regarding the bearing capacity are developed and show good agreement with the numerical results. The thickness ratio limit for PBCS walls to satisfy the ductility requirement is addressed. This investigation not only provides insight into the cyclic behavior of PBCS walls with varied thickness ratios but also demonstrates the potential applicability of PBCS walls in precast concrete (PC) structures for both thermal insulation and earthquake resistance purposes.

Elastic and inelastic acceleration amplification of nonstructural components characterized using recorded building responses

This paper presents a comprehensive study of the acceleration (or force) amplification behavior of building nonstructural components characterized using a large set of recorded building responses available in the Center for Engineering Strong Motion Data (CESMD) repository. The elastic acceleration amplification demands of nonstructural components are analyzed statistically and subsequently compared with the corresponding inelastic demands characterized by the constant-ductility floor response spectra. Different simplified hysteretic rules are adopted for evaluating the inelastic acceleration responses of nonstructural components. The numerical study demonstrates that the elastic acceleration amplification characteristics of the nonstructural components are highly dependent on their natural periods relative to the specific vibration modes of the supporting structures as well as their attachment locations relative to the building height. The presence of component ductility effectively reduces their seismic acceleration demands, particularly in period ranges tuned with their supporting structures. Furthermore, the hysteretic behavior of nonstructural components may moderately modify their acceleration amplification effects. Findings from this study substantiate current seismic design provisions of nonstructural components with evidence derived from building floor responses recorded during real earthquakes.

Probabilistic floor spectra for fully self-centering structures with flag-shaped hysteretic behavior

Self-centering structures are emerging structural systems developed for enhancing the seismic resilience of building structures by minimizing residual displacements. Various investigations were conducted to study the design methods and seismic performance of self-centering structural systems, but the research on nonstructural performance in self-centering structures is limited. This paper aims to develop the probabilistic floor spectra that can be used for designing the acceleration-sensitive nonstructural components in self-centering building structures under near-fault ground motions. To this end, comprehensive dynamic analyses were conducted to obtain the floor spectra. 320 near-fault ground motions were selected for considering the seismic excitation's uncertainty. The Anderson-Darling test was adopted to estimate the probabilistic distribution of the floor spectra. The test results indicate that the floor spectra follow the logarithmic normal distribution under earthquakes. The effects of the nonlinear properties of primary self-centering structures (including the initial period, hysteretic features, and structural damping) and the damping of the nonstructural components on the median and dispersion of floor spectra were discussed based on the parametric dynamic analysis results. The prediction model of the probability density function of the probabilistic floor spectra for self-centering structures was developed based on the artificial neural network algorithm. The software FloorSpectraNet was developed to facilitate practical applications.

Experimental hysteretic behavior of CFST column-foundation connections with novel detailing in embedded region

This paper presents a novel CFST column-foundation connection detail to improve stress transfer and damage control. To achieve this aim, seven specimens were created in the lab in three different configurations: exposed connection (base plate), embedded connection without reinforcement, and embedded connection with reinforcement. These specimens were subjected to cyclic lateral load and constant axial load tests. The effect of using internal reinforcement (including reinforcing anchor bar and internal tube) and external reinforcement (including shear studs, external diaphragm, and through diaphragm) in the embedded region on the reduction of the embedded depth was assessed. Performance indices of the tested connections, including the stiffness, lateral loading capacity, energy-dissipation capacity, ductility, and strain distribution of steel tubes, were analyzed based on hysteresis and pushover graphs. The test data demonstrated that all the specimens experienced flexural failure, and consequently, the local buckling of the steel tube was observed in all experiments with the exception of the specimen that had an exposed connection. The specimens with reinforcement in the embedded region had acceptable behavior with ductility coefficients higher than 4.8. The seismic response of the connection with the novel detail showed that the performance indices of the connection with reinforcing anchor rebars and reinforcing internal steel tube in the embedded region were considerably higher than those of the connection without reinforcement in the embedded region and the one in the exposed form. Moreover, the depth at which the connection is embedded was reduced by up to 0.7 times the diameter of the column due to the utilization of reinforcement in the embedded region.

Getting the leaves right matters for estimating temperature extremes

Abstract. Atmospheric reanalyses combine observations and models through data assimilation techniques to provide spatio-temporally continuous fields of key surface variables. They can do so for extended historical periods whilst ensuring a coherent representation of the main Earth system cycles. ERA5 and its enhanced land surface component, ERA5-Land, are widely used in Earth system science and form the flagship products of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) of the European Commission. Such land surface modelling frameworks generally rely on a state variable called leaf area index (LAI), representing the number of leaves in a grid cell at a given time, to quantify the fluxes of carbon, water and energy between the vegetation and the atmosphere. However, the LAI within the modelling framework behind ERA5 and ERA5-Land is prescribed as a climatological seasonal cycle, neglecting any interannual variability and the potential consequences that this uncoupling between vegetation and atmosphere may have on the surface energy balance and the climate. To evaluate the impact of this mismatch in LAI, we analyse the corresponding effect it has on land surface temperature (LST) by comparing what is simulated to satellite observations. We characterise a hysteretic behaviour between LST biases and LAI biases that evolves differently along the year depending on the background climate. We further analyse the repercussions for the reconstructed climate during more extreme conditions in terms of LAI deviations, with a specific focus on the 2003, 2010 and 2018 heat waves in Europe for which LST mismatches are exacerbated. We anticipate that our results will assist users of ERA5 and ERA5-Land data in understanding where and when the larger discrepancies can be expected, but also guide developers towards improving the modelling framework. Finally, this study could provide a blueprint for a wider benchmarking framework for land surface model evaluation that exploits the capacity of LST to integrate the effects of both radiative and non-radiative processes affecting the surface energy.

Operator norm-based determination of failure probability of nonlinear oscillators with fractional derivative elements subject to imprecise stationary Gaussian loads

An approximate analytical technique is developed for bounding the first-passage probability of lightly damped nonlinear and hysteretic oscillators endowed with fractional derivative elements and subjected to imprecise stationary Gaussian loads. In particular, the statistical linearization and stochastic averaging methodologies are integrated with an operator norm-based approach to formulate a numerically efficient proxy for the first-passage probability. This proxy is employed to determine the realizations of the interval-valued parameters of the excitation model that yield the extrema of the failure probability function. Ultimately, each failure probability bound is determined in a fully decoupled manner by solving a standard optimization problem followed by a single evaluation of the first-passage probability. The proposed approximate technique can be construed as an extension of a recently developed operator norm scheme to account for oscillators with fractional derivative elements. In addition, it can readily treat a wide range of nonlinear and hysteretic behaviors. To illustrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed technique, a hardening Duffing and a bilinear hysteretic nonlinear oscillators with fractional derivative elements subject to imprecise stationary Gaussian loads are considered as numerical examples.

Effect of Pre-tensioning Force on Behavior of Buckling Restrained Brace (BRB) Supported by Double Pre-tensioning System

The study explores the feasibility of a new all-steel buckling restrained brace (BRB) with the double pre-tensioning system as an alternative to conventional concentrically braced frames by using finite element method (ABAQUS program), And to verify modeling, use U-V1 specimen results and compare them with test results. The restraining element in an all-steel BRB is built from a rectangular plate with a double cross arm and cables, making it easy to fabricate, inspect, and replace after a severe earthquake. Numerical analyses were conducted on four groups: first group of specimens using dynamic loading to achieve the minimum thickness for stable hysteretic behavior and high efficiency for BRB, and three groups of specimens using monotonic loading to achieve the best pre-tensioning forces value in steel 37, 44 and 52 for greater efficient use of all steel BRB. The results showed a 66% improvement in bearing capacity, with the external restraining case thickness reduced to 20 mm, making it lightweight, economical, and easy to maintain. The specimens with a pre-tensioning force of 70 kN, 50 kN and 40 kN providing a 31%, 51% and 73.2 % for steel 37, 44 and 52 respectively over than the design specimen without pre-tensioning system.

Experimental study on the hysteretic behavior of aluminum alloy gusset joint with rectangular hollow sections

Aluminum alloys were extensively applied in single-layer latticed shells owing to their exceptional mechanical properties, outstanding corrosion resistance, and aesthetic appeal. In traditional aluminum alloy grid shell structures, H-section components were widely utilized. However, the H-section components exhibited poor self-stability compared to rectangular hollow sections, whose limitation constrains the utilization of aluminum alloy single-layer latticed shells. To overcome this problem, a named ARH (Aluminum Rectangular Hollow) joint was developed using BOM bolts by some scholars, and the out-of-plane bending behavior was studied. This paper conducted out-of-plane hysteretic tests on four ARH joints with different bolt numbers and gusset thicknesses. Subsequently, a finite element model was developed to simulate the hysteretic behavior of the ARH joint. The simulation results were compared with the test results to verify the accuracy of the model. Then, a series of parameter analyses based on the developed finite element model were conducted. For the ARH joint, Analysis results showed that the decrease in bolt numbers and gusset thicknesses resulted in the weakening of the stiffness and bearing capacity, and the increase of bolt-hole diameters resulted in elevated slip deformation. Moreover, in gusset joints, joints with rectangular hollow sections have greater out-of-plane bending resistance compared to joints made from H-sections with the same section height and flange thickness.

Modeling of the hysteretic behavior of nonlinear particle damping by Fourier neural network with transfer learning

The particle damper (PD) filled with granular material exhibits hysteretic behavior under dynamic excitation, meaning that its response depends not only on the current excitation but also on its excitation history. The hysteresis loops of a PD vary with the excitation frequency due to its nonlinear nature. To model the particle damping hysteresis, this study proposes using neural networks (NN), which have a powerful ability to recognize such nonlinear relationships. However, NNs suffer from a long-standing issue called spectra bias, which means they tend to learn low-frequency components first and struggle to recognize high-frequency components. This is a problem for modeling PDs, which may involve high-frequency features in the target function. To address this issue, the recently developed theory of neural tangent kernel (NTK) revealed why NNs are perplexed by the spectra bias. Based on this theory, Fourier features embedding is proposed to expedite the learning of NNs on high-frequency features to extricate NNs from the shackle of spectra bias. After implementing the Fourier features embedding, an investigation on the use of transfer learning (TL), incorporated with the physics-informed neural network (PINN), is conducted to improve the proposed model’s performance. The concatenation of Fourier features embedding and TL formulates the proposed method, the Fourier features-embedded, transfer learning-incorporated physics-informed neural network (ff-TLPINN).The established surrogate model of the PD’s hysteretic response force under steady-state excitation covers a wide frequency range of 100–2000 Hz. The proposed model is validated using a dataset generated from the sweep-sinusoidal excitation and is shown to be more effective than a plain NN model. The study’s findings demonstrate the potential of using NNs to model the hysteresis of PDs and the effectiveness of using Fourier features embedding and TL to overcome the issue of spectra bias and improve the model’s performance. Overall, the proposed model provides a promising approach to accurately modeling the behavior of granular material-dilled PDs under dynamic excitation.

A Novel Viscoelastic-Friction Model for the Multiphase Hysteretic Behavior of Aluminum Foam/Polyurethane Interpenetrating Phase Composite Damper

An aluminum foam/polyurethane interpenetrating phase composite damper (AF/ PUCD) can perform multi-functional energy dissipation to address different seismic hazards due to its multiphase hysteretic behavior. To improve the design of AF/PUCDs in engineering structures, a highly effective model based on the real deformation of an AF/PUCD is needed to describe its multiphase hysteretic behavior. In this paper, a novel viscoelastic-friction model composed of a viscoelastic component and a friction component is constructed. The hysteretic responses in each phase under various external excitations are described through the different combinations of the viscoelastic component and friction component. The unknown model parameters are identified through the Universal Global Algorithm (UGO). The model results are compared with the experimental results and the results from the Modified Bouc–Wen model and Optimum model. The comparative results show that the viscoelastic-friction model has a higher accuracy in capturing the multiphase hysteresis of AF/PUCD and predicting the boundary of each phase when the AF/PUCD is subjected to various cyclic excitations. Therefore, the viscoelastic-friction model is a good candidate for the design of AF/PUCDs applied in vibration control structures.

Experimental and numerical study on hysteretic behaviour of corrugated steel plate shear walls under lateral loads

This paper presents experimental and numerical investigations of the hysteretic performance of the corrugated steel plate shear wall (CSPSW) subjected to lateral loads, and proposes an effective hysteretic model for the CSPSW with interactive buckling or yielding of the corrugated steel plate (CSP). First, a cyclic loading test for a CSPSW with interactive buckling was conducted. The CSPSW test specimen exhibited high strength, lateral stiffness, and good energy dissipation capacity. In accordance with the cyclic test, a numerical model was developed to simulate the hysteretic behaviour of the CSPSW. Subsequently, extensive parametric analyses were performed to investigate the effects of the concerned geometry parameters on the hysteretic performance of CSPSWs, such as the height–thickness ratio, aspect ratio, corrugation angle, horizontal subpanel width and surrounding frame stiffness. The available limits of the height–thickness ratio, aspect ratio and surrounding column stiffness for CSPSWs were suggested. Based on the experimental and numerical results of the hysteretic curves and theoretical derivations, a hysteretic model for a CSPSW with interactive buckling or yielding of the CSP was proposed and verified by tests and finite element models. The results showed that the proposed hysteretic theoretical model can reproduce the hysteretic performance of CSPSWs with reasonable accuracy.

Numerical investigation on hysteretic behaviour of corroded T-shaped tubular joints under compressive bending

This study explores the dynamic safety performance of marine structures in long-term service, focusing on the impacts of seawater corrosion damage and dynamic loads on the hysteretic mechanical properties of T-shaped tubular joints. Employing the accelerated electrochemical corrosion method, joints were pre-corroded in artificial seawater. Monotonic tensile experiments were conducted on material test specimens extracted from the chord and brace of a corroded joint. The findings indicate that corrosion significantly degrades the elastic modulus, strength, and ductility of chord and brace steels, with ductility exhibiting heightened sensitivity to corrosion. These test results were integrated into a joint model for numerical analysis, revealing a decrease in strength, stiffness, and bearing capacity of T-shaped tubular joints with increasing corrosion severity. A comprehensive three-segment full-skeleton model of the corroded tubular joints was developed, encompassing elastic, strengthening, and descending sections. Additionally, a cyclic degradation index was introduced to describe the degradation patterns of strength and stiffness. The model considers the degradation effects of corrosion on yield point, peak point, failure point, and loading and unloading stiffnesses. Consequently, a detailed hysteretic mechanical model of corroded T-shaped tubular joints under biaxial loading has been established, contributing valuable insights into the structural integrity of marine structures under corrosive conditions.

Hybrid‐simulation‐based model calibration method for nonlinear seismic analysis

AbstractThe calibration of parameters of hysteretic models that simulate the hysteretic behavior of key structural components is a crucial task in the nonlinear seismic analysis of structures to ensure accurate analysis results. For complicated systems, a direct calibration of model parameters at the system level is almost impossible due to the lack of test data. Consequently, the calibration is usually conducted using test results with lower levels of complexity. Currently, a widely accepted practice in calibrating hysteretic model parameters in structural models is to utilize standardized cyclic tests of a single component. However, due to the simplified and unrealistic loading profile of standardized cyclic tests, the relevance between the calibration and the system‐level prediction capabilities can be weak. In other words, a well‐tuned hysteretic model that matches the standardized cyclic test results very well may not be able to produce the same level of accuracy in estimating the system‐level structural dynamic response where the calibrated components will experience more random and complicated loadings. In this paper, a method is proposed to calibrate hysteretic models in a test method with more realistic loading histories through hybrid simulations. The proposed calibration method is then validated by conducting a large number of hybrid simulations on a type of small‐scale buckling‐restrained brace (BRB) specimen. A framework is also proposed to evaluate the relevance between the calibration and the system‐level response considering uncertainties in hysteretic model parameters. The results demonstrate the superiority of the hybrid‐simulation‐based calibration method over the conventional cyclic‐test‐based calibration method.

Screening significant properties of macro-fiber composite laminate substrate anisotropy with viscoelastic and thermal considerations at the quasi-static level

A macro-fiber composite (MFC) is a class of smart material actuator that employs piezoceramic fibers to extend or contract under an applied electric field. When embedded on a thin substrate, actuated MFCs induce surface pressure, resulting in out-of-plane motion. Design characteristics of the substrate, such as anisotropy, give rise to unique bend/twist behavior. Previous studies on MFC applications have focused on optimizing patch location in relation to the local design to achieve optimal bend/twist motion. However, the resolution to these approaches is restricted to the design space of the application, presenting an absence in piezoelectric laminate design intuition. This research aims to streamline the initial optimization process by analyzing the significant material properties associated with substrate design. To accomplish this, a viscoelastic piezoelectric plate theory model is developed to accurately capture the displacement behavior of the MFC laminate for any given substrate design. Experimental data is used to validate and refine the model, ensuring it closely represents real-world physics. A 2k fractional factorial design of experiments approach is used to identify significant substrate properties per MFC laminate configuration, assigning each material property a two-level coding system. Three configurations are observed, with each exhibiting distinct significant properties and effects compared to others. Furthermore, the study explores the impact of thermal factors on substrate behavior for these MFC laminates, highlighting how significant properties can be temperature dependent. The contributions to the kinematic response due to substrate property perturbation varies uniquely per material property and MFC laminate configuration. Statistical evidence supports the notion that the hysteretic behavior of a material is unaffected by thermal influences and is solely determined by the elastic constants of the substrate. The maximum remanent hysteretic response is shown to be proportional to the maximum actuation response at near room temperature.

Epitaxial Stabilization of Perovskite ATeO3 Thin Films

Tellurium oxides of the ATeO3 form typically do not crystallize in perovskite structures. Here, we show that perovskite-like ATeO3 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) thin films can be grown on perovskite single-crystal substrates via epitaxial stabilization. These films are stable with high optical bandgaps, low dielectric losses, and a high electric breakdown strength. Hysteretic dielectric behavior found in SrTeO3 and BaTeO3 strongly suggests the presence of antiferroelectricity and ferroelectricity, respectively. These properties make perovskite tellurium oxides possibly appealing candidates for thin film coating or insulator materials in advanced microelectronics. Tellurium oxides constitute a largely unexplored class of materials that might show new and interesting functionalities in epitaxial thin-films. Our work encourages new work within this field.