A conductive rigid spheroidal inclusion in a transversely isotropic piezoelectric body subjected to an axial pull

The exact axisymmetric solution is derived for an infinite transversely isotropic piezoelectric body containing an electrically conductive, rigid spheroidal inclusion under an axial pull. A simple general solution is employed in which three quasi-harmonic functions are involved and can be assumed in a closed form. The arbitrary constants are determined from the continuity conditions at the surface of the inclusion. The load-deflection and load-potential relations are derived, especially for two degenerated cases that are very important in the strength analysis of composite piezoelectric materials.