Null-field approach for piezoelectricity problems with arbitrary circular inclusions

In this paper, we derive the null-field integral equation for piezoelectricity problems with arbitrary piezoelectric circular inclusions under remote anti-plane shears and in-plane electric fields. Separable expressions of fundamental solutions and Fourier series for boundary densities are adopted to solve the piezoelectric problem with circular inclusions. Four gains are obtained: (1) well-posed model, (2) singularity free, (3) boundary-layer effect free and (4) exponential convergence. The solution is formulated in a manner of semi-analytical form since error purely attributes to the truncation of Fourier series. Two piezoelectric problems with two piezoelectric circular inclusions are revisited and compared with the Chao and Chang's solutions to demonstrate the validity of our method. The limiting case that the two inclusions separate far away leads to the Pak's solution of a single inclusion. Stress and electric field concentrations are calculated and are dependent on the distance between the two inclusions, the mismatch in the material constants and the magnitude of mechanical and electromechanical loadings. The results for the shear and electric loadings in two directions are also compared well with the Wang and Shen's results. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.