Closed-form solution for two collinear cracks in a piezoelectric strip

Under the permeable electric boundary condition, the problem of two collinear anti-plane shear cracks lying at the mid-plane of a piezoelectric strip is investigated. By using the Fourier transform, the associated problem is reduced to a singular integral equation. Solving the resulting equation analytically, the electro-elastic field intensity factors and energy release rates at the inner and outer crack tips can be determined in explicit form. Numerical results for PZT-5H piezoelectric ceramic are also presented graphically. The results reveal that the effect of electric field on crack growth in piezoelectric materials is dependent on applied elastic displacement.