Interactions of multiple parallel symmetric permeable mode-III cracks in a piezoelectric material plane

In this paper, the interactions of multiple parallel symmetric and permeable finite length cracks in a piezoelectric material plane subjected to anti-plane shear stress loading were studied by the Schmidt method. The problem was formulated through Fourier transform into dual integral equations, in which the unknown variables are the jumps of displacements across the crack surfaces. To solve the dual integral equations, the jumps of displacements across the crack surfaces were directly expanded as a series of Jacobi polynomials. Finally, the relation between the electric field and the stress field near the crack tips was obtained. The results show that the stress and the electric displacement intensity factors at the crack tips depend on the lengths and spacing of the cracks. It is also revealed that the crack shielding effect presents in piezoelectric materials.