Combined effect of electric and mechanical loading on fracture of the PZT-5 ferroelectric ceramics Original Research Article

The combined effect of electric and mechanical loading on fracture of the PZT-5 ferroelectric ceramics in silicon oil has been investigated using single-edge notched specimens. The results show that the fracture toughness and the threshold stress intensity factor of delayed fracture in silicon oil, i.e., stress corrosion cracking, decreases linearly with increasing the applied electric field, either positive or negative. For the PZT-5 ferroelectric ceramics, delayed fracture in silicon oil under sustained positive or negative field can occur, and the threshold field for delayed fracture under sustained positive or negative field decreases linearly with applied stress intensity factor. The combined effect of electric and mechanical loading on delayed fracture in silicon oil includes field-enhancing delayed fracture under sustained load and stress-enhancing delayed fracture in silicon oil under sustained field.