ANTIPLANE SHEAR CRACK-GROWTH RATE OF PIEZOELECTRIC CERAMIC BODY WITH FINITE-WIDTH

The theory of linear piezoelectricity is applied to develop an anti-pl ane crack growth rate equation of a finite crack in a piezoelectric ce ramic body with finite width. Plastic zone is assumed to be confined t o a sheet ahead of both crack edges similar to the strip model for in- plane loading. The procedure consists of reducing a system of dual int egral equations to a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. Th e accumulated plastic displacement criterion is used for developing a solution for the crack growth rate. Numerical values of crack growth r ate are obtained and the results are displayed graphically to exhibit the electroelastic interactions. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.