Domain switching effect on fracture of piezoelectric solids

摘要

Rational design of smart sensors and actuators that consist of piezoelectric solids requires a thorough understanding of the constitutive behavior of this material under mechanical and electrical loading. Domain switching is the cause of significant nonlinearity in the constitutive behavior of piezoelectric solids, which may be enhanced in the presence of cracks. In this paper, the response of piezoelectric solids is formulated by coupling thermal, electrical, and mechanical effects. The corresponding finite element equations are derived and applied in the solution of the piezoelectric center crack problems. The effects of domain switching are evaluated on the near tip stress intensity factors. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. [References: 14]