Three dimensional axisymmetric problems in piezoelectric media: Revisited by a real fundamental solutions based new method

The purpose of the present work is to establish a set of real fundamental solutions for the differential governing equations of three dimensional axisymmetric problems in piezoelectric media. Firstly, conventional complex fundamental solutions are derived by analysis on the eigenvalue problem, and then, Euler’s formula is used to transform them into equivalent real fundamental solutions. As an example of application, the fracture problem of an axisymmetric penny-shaped crack in a piezoelectric layer is resolved by the real fundamental solutions based new method. Theoretical derivation and numerical computation are validated in the special case of a penny-shaped crack in an infinite piezoelectric body. Effects of geometrical parameters and electric-loading coefficient on energy release rates are surveyed and their agreement with the results of existing papers is also indicated. The advantage of such a real fundamental solutions based new method is that it can effectively help to avoid the difficult complex analysis in mixed boundary value problems.