Numerical Simulation of Tri-layer Interface Cracks in Piezoelectric Materials Using Extended Finite Element Method

Abstract

Piezoelectric materials have wide applications due to their special electromechanical coupling characteristics but are vulnerable to sudden failure because of their brittle nature. Researchers have been profoundly interested in investigating the fracture of piezoelectric materials under different applied conditions. In the present work, tri-layer plates with interface cracks in piezoelectric materials have been analyzed using XFEM. Impermeable static cracks at the interfaces of PZT-5H and PZT-4 have been investigated under mechanical and electromechanical loading conditions. Numerical results show that the ɛ (oscillating) singularity vanishes and $$\kappa$$ class singularity exists for the current combination of materials. Enrichment functions for $$\kappa$$ class are applied to obtain the stress and electric fields near the crack tip. An interaction integral approach is used to evaluate fracture parameters. An effect on stress and electric displacement intensity factors due to variation in mechanical and electric loading has also been investigated.