Experimental studies on crack growth in ferroelectric ceramics

This experimental work seeks to add to the understanding of fracture of ferroelectric ceramics. R-curve measurements with additional electrical loads show that AC electrical loading causes a drop in the critical mechanical load. The surface potential distribution around a stationary crack under various electromechanical loading conditions, measured with Kelvin Force Microscopy, is used to determine an effective dielectric constant of the crack, which is shown to depend on the distance from the crack tip, the electric and mechanical load and which changes with time and successive loading cycles.