Numerical and experimental analyses of singular electro-elastic fields around a V-shaped notch tip in piezoelectric materials

A super V-shaped notch tip element that simulates electro-elastic behavior near a V-shaped notch tip is first developed based on one-dimensional finite element eigensolutions. The present element is then incorporated with standard four-node hybrid electro-elastic field elements to calculate electro-elastic singularity orders, singular strain distributions and generalized stress intensity factors ahead of V-shaped notch tips in three-point-bending piezoelectric specimens with notch angles α = 0°, 30°, 60° and 90°, respectively. The present numerical solutions are compared with those obtained from the moiré interferometry experiment technique. Finally, the effect of the V-shaped notch angle and electric field on singular electro-elastic fields is also discussed.