Electric fracture and polarization switching properties of piezoelectric ceramic PZT studied by the modified small punch test

The fracture behavior of a piezoelectric ceramic under applied electric fields has been discussed through experimental and theoretical characterizations. The modified small punch (MSP) tests were performed on a commercial piezoelectric ceramic. The fracture initiation loads under different electric fields were obtained from the experiment. Fracture surface was examined for the MSP specimens to identify the failure mechanisms under high electric fields. A nonlinear three-dimensional finite element analysis was also employed to calculate the fracture deflection and MSP energy. A procedure is presented for determining the fracture and polarization switching properties due to electrical effects by experimental and theoretical means.