Fracture Criteria for Piezoelectric Ceramics

Fracture criteria for piezoelectric materials were investigated. Mode I and mixed mode fracture tests were performed on PZT-4 piezoelectric ceramics to verify the validity of the mechanical strain energy release rate as a fracture criterion. Experimental results indicated that crack extension could be aided or impeded by an electric field, depending on the field direction. Further, the direction of crack extension was studied. A crack closure method, together with finite element analysis, was introduced to calculate the mechanical strain energy release rate. The maximum mechanical strain energy release rate was used to predict fracture loads under combined mechanical and electrical loads. It was found that the mechanical strain energy release rate criterion is superior to other fracture criteria and predicts fracture loads fairly accurately.