Mode I crack growth rate for yield strip model of a narrow piezoelectric ceramic body

A crack growth rate equation is found for a finite crack in a narrow transversely isotropic piezoelectric ceramic body under tensile loading. Use is made of the yield strip model. The crack is situated in the mid-plane and is parallel to the edges of the body. Integral transforms are applied to reduce the problem to a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. The accumulated plastic displacement criterion is applied to crack growth at low stress levels. This results in a small crack growth rate equation with fourth-power stress intensity factor dependence. Numerical examples are given for piezoelectric ceramics and the crack growth rates are plotted as a function of body height to crack length ratio for various values of the electrical loads.