Electroelastic analysis of a piezoelectric elliptical inhomogeneity

Abstract--This paper is concerned with the development of a general solution for the elliptical inhomogeneity problem in piezoelectric materials under antiplane shear and inplane electric field. Explicit forms of the electroelastic fields are given in both the inhomogeneity and the matrix by means of the complex variable method. Furthermore, the change of the electric enthalpy due to the presence of an inhomogeneity is obtained. Numerical examples are provided to show the effect of the material mismatch, the aspect ratio of the inhomogeneity and the loading condition upon the change of the electric enthalpy and the electroelastic field concentration due to the presence of the inhomogeneity. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd