The elastic and electric fields for three-dimensional contact for transversely isotropic piezoelectric materials

Firstly, the extended Boussinesq and Cerruti solutions for point forces and point charge acting on the surface of a transversely isotropic piezoelectric half-space are derived. Secondly, aiming at a series of common three-dimensional contact including spherical contact, a conical indentor and an upright circular flat punch on a transversely isotropic piezoelectric half-space, we solve for their elastic and electric fields in smooth and frictional cases by first evaluating the displacement functions and then differentiating. The displacement functions can be obtained by integrating the extended Bollssinesq or Cerruti solutions in the contact region. Then, when only normal pressure is loaded, the stresses in the half-space of PZT-4 piezoelectric ceramic are compared in the figures with those of the transversely isotropic material which are assumed to have the same elastic constants as those of PZT-4. Meanwhile, the electric components in the half-space of PZT-4 piezoelectric ceramic are also shown in the same figures. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.