Electric field intensity factors for conducting paths in anisotropic dielectric bimaterials

Abstract

Conducting paths in an anisotropic dielectric bimaterial as well as in a homogeneous anisotropic material subjected to electric loading are investigated. The conducting path problems are formulated by using a linear transformation method. Electric field intensity factors are obtained for conducting paths emanating from a surface electrode in an orthotropic material. The asymptotic problem of a kinked conducting path in dissimilar anisotropic dielectric materials is considered. The electric field intensity factor for the asymptotic problem is obtained in the infinite product form. To ascertain validity of the solution obtained from the linear transform method, numerical computations are carried out by using finite element method. The electric field intensity factor for a conducting path emanating from the vertex of a bimaterial wedge with a tilt boundary is also obtained in the closed form.