Narrow Results

Piezoelectric materials due to their electromechanical coupling characteristics are being widely used in actuators, sensor, transducers, etc. Considering wide application it is essential to accurately predict their fatigue and fracture under applied loading conditions. The present study deals with analysis of fatigue crack growth in piezoelectric material using the extended finite element method (XFEM). A pre-cracked rectangular plate with crack at its edge and center impermeable crack-face boundary conditions is considered for simulation. Fatigue crack growth is simulated using extended finite element method under plane strain condition and mechanical, combined (mechanical and electrical) cyclic loading. Stress intensity factors for mechanical and combined (mechanical and electrical cyclic loadings) have been evaluated by interaction integral approach using the asymptotic crack tip fields. Crack propagation criteria have been applied to predict propagation and finally the failure.

Extended finite element method (XFEM) and second-order perturbation technique (SOPT) were combinedly utilized using interaction integral (M-integral) through partition of unity method to find out the mean and variance of mixed mode stress intensity factor (MMSIF). Uncertain system parameters are considered in material properties, crack length, crack orientation, gradient coefficients in the present study. MMSIF in a numerical example with center crack is computed to validate the accuracy of the presented model. Finally, typical numerical results are presented to examine the different modulus ratios, crack angle, crack length, position of crack and tensile, shear and combined loadings with uncertain system properties on the MMSIF.