Multiple interfacial cracks in a bi-layered multiferroic composite under magnetostriction or electrostriction

The purpose of the present paper is to investigate the problem of interfacial fracture in a multiferroic composite under magnetostriction or electrostriction. Methods of distributed interfacial dislocations, Green’s function and Cauchy singular integral equations are employed to solve the problem of multiple cracks on the interface. Numerical results of the fracture parameter are discussed, and the magnetostrictive or electrostrictive interfacial fracture is explained via the physical phenomena of “active/passive deformation”, “magneto/electro-mechanical coupling” and “piezomagnetic/piezoelectric stiffening”.

► The problem of multiple interfacial cracks in a multiferroic composite is solved.
► Methods of dislocation simulation and Cauchy SIE are employed.
► The mechanisms of magnetostrictive or electrostrictive interfacial fracture are revealed.