Limited permeable crack in an interlayer between piezoelectric materials with different zones of electrical saturation and mechanical yielding

A plane problem for two identical piezoelectric semi-infinite spaces adhered by means of a thin isotropic interlayer is considered. It is assumed that a crack of a limited electric permeability occurs in the interlayer parallel to its faces. Combined electromechanical loading is prescribed at infinity. It is assumed that the interlayer is softer than the adherent materials. To avoid the singularities, which are typical for the Griffith crack model, two distinct zones – a zone of mechanical yielding and a zone of electrical saturation – of unknown lengths are introduced as crack continuations. These lengths can be essentially different, with the zone of mechanical yielding significantly longer or shorter than the zone of electrical saturation. Assuming that the interlayer thickness tends to zero, a constant normal stress is prescribed in the zone of mechanical yielding and a saturated electrical displacement is prescribed in the zone of electrical saturation. Outside of these zones, the semi-infinite spaces are assumed to be perfectly bonded. This formulation results in a linear fracture mechanics problem with unknown pre-fracture zone lengths. The problem, formulated mathematically by a system of two equations of linear relationship, is solved exactly. The unknown yield and saturated zones lengths are found from the conditions of finiteness of stress and electrical displacement at the ends of these zones for the both cases when the electrical saturated zone is longer and shorter than the zone of mechanical yielding. It is shown that the same equation as for the Griffith crack model can be used for the determination of the electrical displacement in the crack region. The main results of the paper are obtained in the form of simple analytical equations which are convenient for engineering applications. Some numerical illustrations in graphical and tabular form show dependencies of the pre-fracture zone lengths, the energy release rate, the mechanical displacement and electrical potential jumps on the electromechanical loading and the electrical permeability of the crack medium.