Analysis of electric boundary condition effects on crack propagation in piezoelectric ceramics

There are three types of cracks: impermeable crack, permeable crack and conducting crack, with different electric boundary conditions on faces of cracks in piezoelectric ceramics, which poses difficulties in the analysis of piezoelectric fracture problems. In this paper, in contrast to our previous FEM formulation, the numerical analysis is based on the used of exact electric boundary conditions at the crack faces, thus the common assumption of electric impermeability in the FEM analysis is avoided. The crack behavior and elasto-electric fields near a crack tip in a PZT-5 piezoelectric ceramic under mechanical, electrical and coupled mechanical-electrical loads with different electric boundary conditions on crack faces are investigated. It is found that the dielectric medium between the crack faces will reduce the singularity of stress and electric displacement. Furthermore, when the permittivity of the dielectric medium in the crack gap is of the same order as that of the piezoelectric ceramic, the crack becomes a conducting crack, the applied electric field has no effect on the crack propagation. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (19672026, 19891180)     

An interface crack with partially electrically conductive crack faces under antiplane mechanical and in-plane electric loadings

An interface crack in a bimaterial piezoelectric space under the action of antiplane mechanical and in-plane electric loadings is analyzed. One zone of the crack faces is electrically conductive while the other part is electrically permeable. All electro-mechanical values are presented using sectionally-analytic vector-functions and a combined Dirichlet-Riemann boundary value problem is formulated. An exact analytical solution of this problem is obtained. Simple analytical expressions for the shear stress, electric field and also for mechanical displacement jump of the crack faces are derived. These values are also presented graphically along the corresponding parts of the material interface. Singular points of the shear stress, electric field and electric displacement jump are found. Their intensity factors are determined as well. Intensity factors variations with respect to the external electric field and different ratios between the electrically conductive and electrically permeable crack face zones are also demonstrated.     

Analysis method of planar cracks of arbitrary shape in the isotropic plane of a three-dimensional transversely isotropic magnetoelectroelastic medium

The hyper-singular boundary integral equation method of crack analysis in three-dimensional transversely isotropic magnetoelectroelastic media is proposed. Based on the fundamental solutions or Green’s functions of three-dimensional transversely isotropic magnetoelectroelastic media and the corresponding Somigliana identity, the boundary integral equations for a planar crack of arbitrary shape in the plane of isotropy are obtained in terms of the extended displacement discontinuities across crack faces. The extended displacement discontinuities include the displacement discontinuities, the electric potential discontinuity and the magnetic potential discontinuity, and correspondingly the extended tractions on crack face represent the conventional tractions, the electric displacement and the magnetic induction boundary values. The near crack tip fields and the intensity factors in terms of the extended displacement discontinuities are derived by boundary integral equation approach. A solution method is proposed by use of the analogy between the boundary integral equations of the magnetoelectroelastic media and the purely elastic materials. The influence of different electric and magnetic boundary conditions, i.e., electrically and magnetically impermeable and permeable conditions, electrically impermeable and magnetically permeable condition, and electrically permeable and magnetically impermeable condition, on the solutions is studied. The crack opening model is proposed to consider the real crack opening and the electric and magnetic fields in the crack cavity under combined mechanical-electric-magnetic loadings. An iteration approach is presented for the solution of the non-linear model. The exact solution is obtained for the case of uniformly applied loadings on the crack faces. Numerical results for a square crack under different electric and magnetic boundary conditions are displayed to demonstrate the proposed method.     

An electrically conducting interface crack with a contact zone in a piezoelectric bimaterial

A plane problem for an electrically conducting interface crack in a piezoelectric bimaterial is studied. The bimaterial is polarized in the direction orthogonal to the crack faces and loaded by remote tension and shear forces and an electrical field parallel to the crack faces. All fields are assumed to be independent of the coordinate co-directed with the crack front. Using special presentations of electromechanical quantities via sectionally-analytic functions, a combined Dirichlet–Riemann and Hilbert boundary value problem is formulated and solved analytically. Explicit analytical expressions for the characteristic mechanical and electrical parameters are derived. Also, a contact zone solution is obtained as a particular case. For the determination of the contact zone length, a simple transcendental equation is derived. Stress and electric field intensity factors and, also, the contact zone length are found for various material combinations and different loadings. A significant influence of the electric field on the contact zone length, stress and electric field intensity factors is observed. Electrically permeable conditions in the crack region are considered as well and matching of different crack models has been performed.     

Fracture analysis of circular-arc interface cracks in piezoelectric materials

The anti-plane problem of N arc-shaped interfacial cracks between a circular piezoelectric inhomogeneity and an infinite piezoelectric matrix is investigated by means of the complex variable method. Cracks are assumed to be permeable and then explicit expressions are presented, respectively, for the electric field on the crack faces, the complex potentials in media and the intensity factors near the crack-tips. As examples, the corresponding solutions are obtained for a piezoelectric bimaterial system with one or two permeable arc-shaped interfacial cracks, respectively. Additionally, the solutions for the cases of impermeable cracks also are given by treating an impermeable crack as a particular case of a permeable crack. It is shown that for the case of permeable interfacial cracks, the electric field is jumpy ahead of the crack tips, and its intensity factor is always dependent on that of stress. Moreover all the field singularities are dependent not only on the applied mechanical load, but also on the applied electric load. However, for the case of a homogeneous material with permeable cracks, all the singular factors are related only to the applied stresses and material constants.     

Modeling of pre-fracture zones for limited permeable crack in piezoelectric materials

A plane-strain problem for a limited permeable crack in an adhesive thin interlayer between two semi-infinite piezoelectric spaces is considered. The tensile mechanical stress and the electric displacement are applied at infinity. The interlayer is assumed to be softer than the connected materials; therefore, the zones of mechanical yielding and electric saturations can arise at the crack tips on the continuations of the crack. These zones are considered in this work. It was assumed that the length of electric saturation zones is larger than the length of mechanical yield zones. The zones of mechanical yielding are modeled by the crack continuations with normal compressive stresses applied at its faces. The electric saturation zones are modeled by segments at the crack continuations with prescribed saturated electric displacements. These electric displacements can linearly vary along the mechanical yielding zones. The problem is reduced to the Hilbert–Riemann problem of linear relationship, which is solved exactly. The equation for the determination of the yielding zones length, the expressions for the crack-opening displacement jump, electric potential jump, and J-integral is obtained in an analytical form. In case of finite size body, the finite elements method is used and the variation in the fracture mechanical parameters with respect to this size is demonstrated.     

Dielectric Breakdown Model for an Electrically Semi-Permeable Penny-Shaped Crack in Three-Dimensional Piezoelectric Media

The dielectric breakdown(DB) model for a penny-shaped crack under a semipermeable boundary condition in a three-dimensional piezoelectric medium is studied.An approximate analytical solution is derived by using the boundary integral equation with extended displacement discontinuity,and the corresponding boundary element method with double iterative approaches is developed to analyze the semi-permeable crack.The effect of electric boundary conditions on crack faces is discussed on the basis of DB model.By comparing the DB model with the polarization saturation(PS) model for different piezoelectric materials,some interesting phenomena related to the electric yielding zone and local J-integral are observed.     

On the influence of electric boundary conditions on dynamic SIFs in piezoelectric materials

Dynamic stress intensity factors (SIFs) for a straight crack in a piezoelectric material under time-harmonic L- and SH-wave loading are determined for different electric boundary conditions. Impermeable, permeable and limited permeable cracks are compared. The problem is formulated and numerically solved using a nonhypersingular traction-based boundary integral equation method where the fundamental solution is obtained by Radon transform. A parametric study in the frequency domain shows the dependence of the SIFs on the choice of the electrical boundary conditions at the crack faces.     

Closed form solution for two unequal collinear semi-permeable straight cracks in a piezoelectric media

The problem of two unequal collinear straight cracks weakening a poled transversely isotropic piezoelectric ceramic is addressed under semi-permeable electric boundary conditions on the crack faces. The plate has been subjected to combined in-plane normal(to the faces of the cracks) mechanical and electric loads. Problem is formulated employing Stroh formalism and solved using complex variable technique. The elastic field, electric field and energy release rate are obtained in closed analytic form. A case study is presented for poled PZT-5H cracked plate to study the effect of prescribed mechanical load, electric load, inter-crack distance and crack lengths on crack arrest parameters stress intensity factor (SIF), electric displacement intensity factor (EDIF) and mechanical and total energy release rates (ERR). Moreover a comparative study is done of impermeable and semi-permeable crack face boundary conditions on SIF, EDIF and ERR, and results obtained is presented graphically. It is observed that the effect of dielectric medium in the crack gap cannot be ignored.     

压电材料反平面III型裂纹电塑性区的分析

本文对反平面III型裂纹电塑性区进行了分析。采用条带模型得到了电塑性区大小的表达式。对于电塑性区的边界条件采用了两种处理方式,一是采用机械位移连续性边界条件,另一种是假设电塑性区的切应力保持为常数的假设。其中后一种处理方式消除了电场和应力在裂纹尖端的奇异性,与实际情况相符合。两种处理方式得到了相同的电塑性区的大小的表达式,并根据两种处理方式计算了能量释放率。类比Irwin的应力松弛模型,本文采用电位移松弛模型同样得到了电塑性区的大小。将条带模型得到的结果与电位移松弛模型得到的结果进行比较发现,在小范围塑性变形条件下,两种方法所得的结果比较接近,从而说明这两种方法的有效性,得到了比较满意的结果。     

Coulomb traction on a penny-shaped crack in a three dimensional piezoelectric body

The axisymmetric problem of a penny-shaped crack embedded in an infinite three-dimensional (3D) piezoelectric body is considered. A general formulation of Coulomb traction on the crack surfaces can be obtained based on thermodynamical considerations of electromechanical systems. Three-dimensional electroelastic solutions are derived by the classical complex potential theory when Coulomb traction is taken into account and the poling direction of piezoelectric body is perpendicular to the crack surfaces. Numerical results show that the magnitude of Coulomb tractions can be large, especially when a large electric field in connection with a small mechanical load is applied. Unlike the traditional traction-free crack model, Coulomb tractions induced by an applied electric field influence the Mode I stress intensity factor for a penny-shaped crack in 3D piezoelectric body. Moreover, compared to the current model, the traditional traction-free crack model always overestimates the effect of the applied electric load on the field intensity factors and energy release rates, which has consequences for 3D piezoelectric fracture mechanics.     

A dielectric crack in a functionally graded piezoelectric layer

Considering the dielectric effects inside a crack, the problem of an electrically dielectric crack in a functionally graded piezoelectric layer is addressed in this paper. The energetically consistent crack-face boundary conditions are utilized to analyze the effects of a dielectric of crack interior. Applying the Fourier transform technique, the boundary-value problem is reduced to solving three coupling singular equations. Then a system of non-linear algebraic equations is obtained and the field intensity factors along with the energy release rate are given. Numerical results show the differences of the electric displacement inside a crack, the stress and electric displacement intensity factors and the energy release rate using the permeable, impermeable, semi-permeable and energetically consistent boundary conditions respectively. The effects of the material non-homogeneity, the applied electric field and the discharge field of crack interior on the electrostatic traction acting on the crack faces and the energy release rate are further studied through the energetically consistent boundary conditions.     

Contact Zone Approach for a Moving Interface Crack in a Piezoelectric Bimaterial under Thermoelectromechanical Loading

An interface crack of a finite length moving with a constant subsonic speed v along an interface of two semi-infinite piezoelectric spaces is considered. It is assumed that the bimaterial compound is loaded by a remote mixed mode mechanical loading and a thermoelectrical field and that a frictionless contact zone arises at the leading crack tip. Electrically permeable and electrically insulated cases of the open part of the crack are involved into the consideration. By introducing a moving coordinate system at the crack tip the problem is reduced to a combined Dirichlet–Riemann boundary value problem which is solved exactly. For both cases of the electrical conditions the transcendental equations are obtained for the determination of the real contact zone length, and moreover, the associated closed form asymptotic formulas are found for small values of this parameter. Variations of the contact zone length and the stress intensity factor with respect to the crack speed and the loading have been investigated both for electrically permeable and electrically insulated cases.     

The effective electroelastic property of piezoelectric media with parallel dielectric cracks

Existing studies on the coupled electroelastic behaviour of cracked piezoelectric media have been based mostly on the electrically impermeable and permeable crack models. The current paper presents a study of the effective electroelastic property of piezoelectric media weakened by parallel cracks using a dielectric crack model with the electric boundary condition along the crack surfaces being governed by the opening displacement. The theoretical formulation is obtained using the dilute model of distributed cracks and the solution of a single dielectric crack problem. It is observed that the effective electroelastic property of cracked piezoelectric media is nonlinear and sensitive to loading conditions. Different modes of crack deformation are predicted and discussed. Attention is paid to the transition between electrically permeable and impermeable crack models.     

On a moving interface crack with a contact zone in a piezoelectric bimaterial

An inplane problem for a crack moving with constant subsonic speed along the interface of two piezoelectric materials is considered. A mechanically frictionless and electrically permeable contact zone is assumed at the right crack tip whilst for the open part of the crack both electrically permeable and electrically insulated conditions are considered. In the first case a moving concentrated loading is prescribed at the crack faces and in the second case an additional electrical charge at the crack faces is prescribed as well. The main attention is devoted to electrically permeable crack faces. Introducing a moving coordinate system at the leading crack tip the corresponding inhomogeneous combined Dirichlet–Riemann problem is formulated and solved exactly for this case. All electromechanical characteristics at the interface are presented in a closed form for arbitrary contact zone lengths, and further, the transcendental equation for the determination of the real contact zone length is derived. As a particular case of the obtained solution a semi-infinite crack with a contact zone is considered. The numerical analysis performed for a certain piezoelectric bimaterial showed an essential increase of the contact zone length and the associated stress intensity factor especially for the near-critical speed region. Similar investigations have been performed for an electrically insulated crack and the same behavior of the above mentioned parameters is observed.     

Numerical solution of polarization saturation/dielectric breakdown model in 2D finite piezoelectric media

The polarization saturation (PS) model [Gao, H., Barnett, D.M., 1996. An invariance property of local energy release rates in a strip saturation model of piezoelectric fracture. Int. J. Fract. 79, R25–R29; Gao, H., Zhang, T.Y., Tong, P., 1997. Local and global energy release rates for an electrically yielded crack in a piezoelectric ceramic. J. Mech. Phys. Solids 45, 491–510], and the dielectric breakdown (DB) model [Zhang, T.Y., Zhao, M.H., Cao, C.F., 2005. The strip dielectric breakdown model. Int. J. Fract. 132, 311–327] explain very well some experimental observations of fracture of piezoelectric ceramics. In this paper, the nonlinear hybrid extended displacement discontinuity-fundamental solution method (NLHEDD-FSM) is presented for numerical analysis of both the PS and DB models of two-dimensional (2D) finite piezoelectric media under impermeable and semi-permeable electric boundary conditions. In this NLHEDD-FSM, the solution is expressed approximately by a linear combination of fundamental solutions of the governing equations, which includes the extended point force fundamental solutions with sources placed at chosen points outside the domain of the problem under consideration, and the extended Crouch fundamental solutions with extended displacement discontinuities placed on the crack and the electric yielding zone. The coefficients of the fundamental solutions are determined by letting the approximated solution satisfy certain conditions on the boundary of the domain, on the crack face and the electric yielding zone. The zero electric displacement intensity factor in the PS model or the zero electric field strength intensity factor in the DB model at the outer tips of the electric yielding zone is used as a supplementary condition to determine the size of the electric yielding zone. Iteration approaches are adopted in the NLHEDD-FSM. The electric yielding zone is determined, and the extended intensity factors and the local J-integral are calculated for center cracks in piezoelectric strips. The effects of finite domain size, saturation property and different electric boundary conditions, as well as different models on the electric yielding zone and the local J-integral, are studied.     

Coupled solution for anisotropic piezoelectric materials with cracks

The coupled elastic and electric fields for anisotropic piezoelectric materials with electrically permeable cracks are analyzed by using Stroh formula in anisotropic elasticity. It is shown from the solution that the tangent component of the electric field strength and the normal component of the electric displacement along the faces of cracks are all constants, and the electric field intensity and electric displacement have the singularity of type (1/2) at the crack tip. The energy release rate for crack propagation depends on both the stress intensity factor and material constants. The electric field intensity and electric displacement inside electrically permeable cracks are all constants.     

The behavior of two non-symmetrical permeable cracks emanating from an elliptical hole in a piezoelectric solid

Based on the Stroh-type formalism, we present a concise analytic method to solve the problem of complicated defects in piezoelectric materials. Using this method and the technique of conformal mapping, the problem of two non-symmetrical collinear cracks emanating from an elliptical hole in a piezoelectric solid is investigated under remotely uniform in-plane electric loading and anti-plane mechanical loading. The exact solutions of the field intensity factors and the energy release rate are presented in closed-form under the permeable electric boundary condition. With the variation of the geometrical parameters, the present results can be reduced to the well-known results of a mode-III crack in piezoelectric materials. Moreover, new special models used for simulating more practical defects in a piezoelectric solid are obtained, such as two symmetrical edge cracks and single edge crack emanating from an elliptical hole or circular hole, T-shaped crack, cross-shaped crack, and semi-infinite plane with an edge crack. Numerical results are then presented to reveal the effects of geometrical parameters and the applied mechanical loading on the field intensity factors and the energy release rate.     

Green’s functions for anti-plane deformations of a circular arc-crack at the interface of piezoelectric materials

Summary The anti-plane deformation problem of an interfacial debounding crack between a circular piezoelectric inclusion and a piezoelectric matrix is investigated by means of the complex variables method. For a line load applied within the matrix or inside the inclusion, Greens functions are presented for the complex potentials, intensity factors and electric fields on the crack faces, respectively, in closed and explicit form. The solutions are valid for both permeable and impermeable crack models. It is shown that, in the general case of permeable cracks, the electric field singularity is always proportional to the stress singularity.The first author (C.F.Gao) would like to express his gratitude for the support of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Germany).     

ASYMPTOTIC ANALYSIS OF MODE Ⅱ STATIONARY GROWTH CRACK ON ELASTIC-ELASTIC POWER LAW CREEPING BIMATERIAL INTERFACE

A mechanical model was established for mode Ⅱ interfacial crack static growing along an elastic-elastic power law creeping bimaterial interface. For two kinds of boundary conditions on crack faces, traction free and frictional contact, asymptotic solutions of the stress and strain near tip-crack were given. Results derived indicate that the stress and strain have the same singularity, there is not the oscillatory singularity in the field; the creep power-hardening index n and the ratio of Young' s module notably influence the cracktip field in region of elastic power law creeping material and n only influences distribution of stresses and strains in region of elastic material. When n is bigger, the creeping deformation is dominant and stress fields become steady, which does not change with n.Poisson ' s ratio does not affect the distributing of the crack- tip field.