Evaluation of Electric Fracture Properties of Piezoelectric Ceramics Using the Finite Element and Single‐Edge Precracked‐Beam Methods

Abstract

Single-edge precracked-beam (SEPB) tests were performed on a commercial lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic. Mechanical loading was applied by the crosshead displacement control of a screw-driven electromechanical test machine. The fracture toughness parameter K C was determined for various electric fields. A finite element analysis was also done to calculate the total potential energy release rate, mechanical strain energy release rate, and stress intensity factor for three-point flexure piezoceramic specimens with permeable and impermeable cracks under displacement and load control conditions. Numerical investigation and comparison with test data indicate that the energy release rate, upon application of the permeable model, is useful for predicting crack growth in PZT ceramic under electromechanical loading. Based on current findings, we suggest that the energy release rate criteria for the permeable crack are superior to fracture criteria for the impermeable crack.

Phase-field modeling of crack propagation in piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials with different electromechanical crack conditions

“…This retarding effect is also observed in other experiments in PZT (Wang and Singh, 1997;Shindo et al, 2002) and PMN PT (Jiang et al, 2009). The weakening effect associated with the application of negative electric fields has also been reported in experiment (Wang and Singh, 1997;Shindo et al, 2002;Fu and Zhang, 2000;Jiang et al, 2009). The polarization reversal effect of an applied electrical load above the coercive field has been reported by Ricoeur and Kuna (2003).…”

“…The magnitude of the enhancement effect depends on the crack conditions, being stronger for EC cracks. Experimental results show a qualitatively similar effect of electrical loads on the crack propagation in poled ferroelectrics (Ricoeur and Kuna, 2003;Wang and Singh, 1997;Shindo et al, 2002;Jiang et al, 2009). 6.…”

Electroelastic intensification and domain switching near a plane strain crack in a rectangular piezoelectric material

“…Theoretical analyses on cracked piezoelectric ceramics indicated that a negative energy release rate is produced for the impermeable crack model [Narita et al 2003]. Furthermore, some experimental results show that the fracture loads are increased or decreased depending on the mechanical loading conditions (applied load or applied displacement) and direction of electric fields [Park and Sun 1995;Shindo et al 2002;. These experimentally observed phenomena contradict the results of the calculations using energy release rate for the impermeable crack model.…”

Phase-Field Modeling of Fracture in Ferroelectric Materials

“…• A negative electric field (below the coercive field) enhances the crack propagation perpendicular to the initial polarization in ferroelectrics, while a positive electric field retards it [5,50,95,106,121].…”

“…Experiments on insulating cracks have shown that a positive electric field promotes crack extension perpendicular to the poling axis of the material, whereas a negative electric field retards it [75,101,112,116]. Other tests have indicated an opposite phenomenon, where their results show that a positive applied electric field inhibits crack propagation, whereas crack propagation is enhanced under a negative applied electric field [50,95,106,121]. On the other hand, experiments do not show a clear shielding or weakening effect of the microstructure on insulating cracks oriented parallel to the poling and electric field direction [112,116].…”