Interface crack-tip generalized stress field and stress intensity factors in transversely isotropic piezoelectric bimaterials

Transversely isotropic piezoelectric (TIP) bimaterials with an impermeable interface crack have been classified [Int. J. Frac. 119 (2003) L41] into two classes corresponding to the vanishing of the two singularity parameters e or K. It is shown in the present paper that the related eigenvalue problems for either epsilon = 0 or kappa = 0 are not degenerate. The crack-tip generalized stress fields are obtained subsequently. A new definition of crack-tip intensity factors is presented for interface cracks in practical TIP bimaterial of practical interest. Such defined intensity factors are real numbers, which dominate the maximum crack-tip stress singularity and do not generate any phase angle change under any dimension system transformation for physical quantities. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.