A variationally consistent phase-field approach for micro-magnetic domain evolution at finite deformations

The present contribution proposes a finite-deformation phase-field model for ferromagnetic materials that can be employed for the simulation of micro-magnetic domain evolution in scenarios involving large deformations. The formulation is based on a fundamental rate-type variational principle and combines classical concepts of nonlinear magnetoelasto-statics with a finite-deformation version of the celebrated Landau-Lifshitz equation. The variational principle is formulated in Lagrangian framework, thus fulfilling a priori objectivity requirements and allowing for straightforward numerical implementation. We demonstrate the capabilities of the formulation by a set of numerical studies with an emphasis on micro-magnetically informed simulations of ferromagnetic bodies embedded in elastomeric materials. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.