Stress intensity factor measurement of cracks using a piezoelectric element

We present a stress intensity factor (SIF) measurement method of cracks using a piezoelectric element and electrostatic voltmeter. In the method, an isotropic piezoelectric element is first adhered near the crack tip. Then, the surface electrodes are attached to the three different positions on the piezoelectric element. The electric potentials of the surface electrodes, which are proportional to the strain sum (ɛ_x+ɛ_y) on the structural member, are measured by an electrostatic voltmeter during load cycling. Mode I and mode II SIFs of the crack are estimated using the relationship between the SIF and (σ_x+σ_y). The applicability of the proposed method is examined through experiments and numerical analysis.