BIEM solution of piezoelectric cracked finite solids under time-harmonic loading

The time-harmonic behavior of cracked finite piezoelectric 2D solids of arbitrary shape is studied by the nonhypersingular traction boundary integral equation method (BIEM). Plane strain and generalized traction free boundary conditions along the crack are assumed. The system may be loaded at the external boundary by arbitrary mechanical or electrical loads. As numerical example a center cracked rectangular piezoelectric plate under time-harmonic tension and electrical displacement is investigated in detail. The accuracy of the proposed numerical algorithm is checked by comparison with available results obtained by other methods for special cases. Parametric studies revealing the sensitivity of the stress intensity factors (SIFs) on the frequency of the applied mechanical and electrical load, on its coupled and uncoupled character and on the piezoelectric properties of the material are presented. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.