Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1993 · 122 citations · 0 references
EngineeringMechanical EngineeringPzt MaterialsFracture BehaviorFatigueFatigue Crack GrowthDynamic Crack PropagationDamage MechanismCeramic TechnologyMaterials ScienceMaterials EngineeringElectrical EngineeringBetter UnderstandingCeramic MaterialSolid MechanicsLow-cycle FatigueStructural CeramicCeramics MaterialsCrack FormationDamage EvolutionEngineering CeramicMechanics Of MaterialsElectrical Insulation
To obtain a better understanding of the effects of electric fields on the fatigue lifetime of PZT materials, specimens of poled and unpoled PZT-8 were either pre-indented to generate a pre- crack or indented in the presence of an applied static electric field. Significant differences in the crack growth behavior perpendicular and parallel to the poling direction were observed in static and time-varying electric fields leading to a reduction in the fracture toughness normal to the poling axis. Fatigue crack growth was significant at field amplitudes as low as 5% of the poling fields. These results are shown to be related to the effects of electrical fields on the stresses at the crack tip.