An arc-shaped crack in an electrostrictive material

The plane problem of a circular-arc crack in an infinite electrostrictive solid under remote electric fields is studied based on the complex variable method. First, explicit solutions for the complex potentials are presented in closed-form. Secondly, intensity factors of total pseudo stresses are derived by taking the Maxwell stresses around the infinite surrounding space and inside the crack into account. Then, numerical results are given to discuss the effects of electric fields on the fracture of electrostrictive materials. It is found that when the interior of the crack is filled with the same gas as that at infinity, the applied electric field has no effects on crack growth; however, when the interior of crack and the surrounding space at infinity are filled with different gases, the applied electric field may either enhance or retard crack growth, which depends on the electric boundary conditions adopted on the crack faces, the Maxwell stresses on the crack faces and at infinity, and the central angle of the crack.