COMBINED DAMAGE FRACTURE CRITERIA FOR PIEZOELECTRIC CERAMICS

Mechanical and electrical damages are introduced to study the fracture mechanics of piezoelectric ceramics in this paper. Two kinds of piezoelectric fracture criteria are established using the method of least squares combined with a damage analysis of the well-known piezoelectric fracture experiments of Park and Suns. One is based on a linear combination of the mechanical and electrical damages and the other on their nonlinear combination. When the combined damage $D$ is up to its critical value $D_{c}$, piezoelectric fracture occurs. It is found from the qualitative comparison of the numerical results with the experimental data that the nonlinearly combined damage fracture criterion can give a better prediction of piezoelectric fracture. And it is concluded from the nonlinearly combined damage fracture criterion that a negative electric field impedes fracture whereas the effect of a positive electric field on fracture depends on its magnitude.