Electroelastic Wave Scattering in a Cracked Dielectric Polymer under a Uniform Electric Field

We investigate the scattering of plane harmonic compression and shear waves by a Griffith crack in an infinite isotropic dielectric polymer. The dielectric polymer is permeated by a uniform electric field normal to the crack face, and the incoming wave is applied in an arbitrary direction. By the use of Fourier transforms, we reduce the problem to that of solving two simultaneous dual integral equations. The solution of the dual integral equations is then expressed in terms of a pair of coupled Fredholm integral equations of the second kind having the kernel that is a finite integral. The dynamic stress intensity factor and energy release rate for mode I and mode II are computed for different wave frequencies and angles of incidence, and the influence of the electric field on the normalized values is displayed graphically. Copyright (C) 2009 Y. Shindo and F. Narita.