In this chapter failure experiments and theories in piezoelectric materials are discussed. In present time the precision of experiments should still be improved. The failure theory in solids is very complicated and there is no unified critical criterion. It is clear that the critical energy for different failure version is different. Especially the version of brittle tension failure is significantly different with other versions. In piezoelectric ceramics the failure energy density of an electric field is much higher than that in mechanical loading. In this chapter the generalized stress intensity factor criterions; total, mechanical, and local energy release rate criterions; strain energy density factor criterion; modal strain energy density factor theory; small-scale domain switching theory; failure criterion of conductive cracks with charge-free zone model are studied. Some simple electric breakdown theories of solid dielectrics are also discussed.Keywords Failure theories • Generalized stress intensity factor • Energy release rate • Modal strain energy • Charge-free zone model • Electric breakdown
Experimental StudiesThe change of the microstructure, including plastic yielding, phase transformation, and failure theory, in solids is very complicated, and in present time there is no unified critical criterion to show these changes exactly. In general the change of the internal microstructure in the materials is caused by deformation, electromagnetic field and temperature. Experiments show that except the failure under tension, before failure the continuous deformation is revealed and then follows the change of the microstructure, so the failure and plastic yielding, etc. often posses the similar criterion. However, the failure of a brittle material under tension is less connected to the continuous deformation, so it should often be discussed in different theory. The experiments are necessary to get the practical failure criterions in engineering. Many experiments for failure have been carried out. Because the piezoelectric specimens are thin and small, manufacturing an ideal crack is very difficult. Usually the crack