Crack initiation behavior of functionally graded piezoelectric material: prediction by the strain energy density criterion

Transient response of a functionally graded piezoelectric medium is considered for a through crack under the mixed-mode in-plane mechanical and electric load. Integral transforms and dislocation density functions are employed to reduce the problem to singular integral equations. The energy density factor criterion is applied to obtain the maximum of the minimum energy density factor. This determines the direction of crack initiation. Numerical results display the effects of material constants, loading combination parameter, mechanical loading angle and material gradient parameter on the possible fracture behavior.