Strength analysis of spherical indentation of piezoelectric materials

The present paper deals with theoretical and computational analysis of quasi-static, normal indentation of a transversely isotropic, linear elastic, piezoelectric half-space by a rigid spherical indenter. The contact is axisymmetric, nonconforming, monotonically advancing with load, frictionless and adhesionless. The indenter was modeled either as perfect conductor or as perfect insulator. The mechanical and electrical fields below the surface were examined. The issues of mechanical and dielectric strength due to indentation were examined using Weibull statistics of surface imperfections. The particular cases of PZT-4, PZT-5A, BaTiO3, and (Ba0.917Ca0.083)TiO3 indented by rigid punches having either zero electrical potential or zero electric charge were solved with finite element analysis.