Transient response of piezoelectric composites caused by the sudden formation of localized defects

A continuum model is presented which is capable of generating the transient electroelastic field in piezoelectric composites of periodic microstructure, caused by the sudden appearance of localized defects. These defects are simulated by associating to every one of the ten piezoelectric parameters of the constituents a distinct damage variable. This procedure enables the modeling of localized cracks, soft and stiff inclusions and cavities. As a result, the constitutive equations of the piezoelectric phases appear in a specific form that includes eigen-electromechanical field variables which represent these defects. The method of solution is based on the combination of two distinct approach. In the first one, the representative cell method is employed according to which the periodic composite, which is discretized into several cells, is reduced to a problem of a single cell in the discrete Fourier transform domain. The resulting coupled elastodynamic and electric equations, initial, boundary and interfacial conditions in the transform domain are solved by employing a wave propagation in piezoelectric composite analysis which forms the second approach. The method of solution is verified by comparison with an analytical solution for the transient response of a piezoelectric material with a semi-infinite mode III-crack. Several applications are presented for the sudden formation of cracks in homogeneous and layered piezoelectric materials which are subjected to various types of electromechanical loading, and for the sudden appearance of a cavity. The effect of electromechanical coupling on the dynamic response is discussed.