Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98

Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect

Computational Materials Science

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/commatsci

Application of X-FEM to study two-unequal-collinear cracks in 2-D finite

magnetoelectoelastic specimen
R.R. Bhargava, Kuldeep Sharma ⇑
Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247 667, India

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history:
Received 19 December 2011
Received in revised form 1 February 2012
Accepted 9 March 2012
Available online 7 April 2012
Keywords:
Electric-displacement intensity factor
Extended finite element method
Magnetoelectroelastic (MEE) ceramics
Magnetic induction intensity factor
Maximum hoop stress intensity factor
Stroh formalism
A quasi-static and propagating analysis is simulated for two-unequal-collinear cracks in a 2-D finite mag-
netoelectroelastic specimen using X-FEM. The intensity factors (IFs) are calculated using interaction inte-
gral in conjugation with the near tip behavior given by the Stroh formalism. In quasi-static case energy
release rate (ERR) variations are investigated with respect to inter-crack space, crack lengths and
mechanical/electrical/magnetic loads. Two-collinear-unequal cracks in an infinite domain problem are
simulated, analyzed and validated. Further, effects of asymmetric orientation and symmetric orientation
of quasi-static two-unequal-collinear cracks vis-à-vis specimen boundaries on total energy release rate
(TERR) and mechanical energy release rate (MERR) are investigated. The case of one edge and one internal
quasi-static crack is obtained as a corollary and the case study is presented. Next, the crack growth study
for two-unequal-collinear edge cracks is simulated using maximum modified hoop stress intensity factor
criterion and considering anisotropic fracture toughness behavior of polarized ceramics. The effect of vol-
ume fraction, electrical and magnetic loadings are similar to the strain energy density function criterion
of crack propagation for magnetoelectroelastic ceramics. Lastly dependence of volume fraction and mate-
rial constants of magnetoelectroelastic ceramics are observed on the set of standard eight basis functions
for these ceramics. Hence, a more generalized set of basis functions is also defined here for these
ceramics.
Ó 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction cracks in a transversely isotropic MEE material using Hankel trans-

Magnetoelectroelastic (MEE) materials have a unique ability of
converting energy from one form to the other amongst magnetic,
electric and mechanical energies. These are brittle in nature and
presence of imperfections or defects such as cracks, voids lead to
the premature failure of these materials under mechanical, electri-
cal or magnetic loadings. Thus the fracture study becomes imper-
ative for such materials. Research on two-collinear-cracks
problems in MEE materials got impetus in last decade. Gao et al.
[1] obtained the generalized solution for collinear cracks in MEE
media using Stroh-formalism subjected to permeable crack-face
conditions and under arbitrary loads.
Zhou et al. [2,3] employed the Schmidt method to investigate a
static/dynamic behavior of two-symmetric-interface cracks be-
tween two dissimilar MEE ceramics half-planes under anti- plane
shear stress loads. Zhou et al. [4] also studied mode-I crack prob-
lem of two-collinear permeable cracks in a MEE composite mate-
rial plane using the generalized Almansi’s theorem in conjugation
with Schmidt method. Wang et al. [5] studied a periodic array of
⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +91 9456318765.
E-mail address: kuldeeppurc@gmail.com (K. Sharma).
forms considering both permeable and impermeable crack-face
conditions. They further investigated effect of crack-spacing on
intensity factors, stress, electric displacement and magnetic induc-
tion. Singh et al. [6] derived closed-form solutions for anti-plane
problem of two-collinear-cracks in a MEE layer of finite thickness
under different boundary conditions. Zhong [7] simulated
semi-permeable crack-face boundary conditions for a case of
two-collinear-cracks full of a dielectric interior in a MEE ceramic.
Rojas-Diaz et al. [8] analyzed dynamic interactions amongst cracks
embedded in 2-D piezoelectric–piezomagnetic composite material
by means of boundary element method.
Li et al. [9] addressed the anti-plane case of collinear unequal
crack series in MEE materials under impermeable conditions. Li
and Lee [10] proposed a real fundamental solution for two-
unequal-collinear cracks in MEE materials under mode-I conditions.
However, for practical applications and study of fracture test on
finite specimens, complex geometry, typical electromechanical
boundary conditions and material non-linearity analysis require
numerical techniques such as finite element method (FEM),
boundary element method (BEM), mesh free method and extended
finite element method (X-FEM). Sanchez et al. [11] applied the
BEM to study fracture behavior of MEE composite materials. They
further compared the accuracy of boundary element solution with

0927-0256/$ - see front matter Ó 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.commatsci.2012.03.013
76 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98
existing analytical solutions. Wang and Mai [12] developed a finite
element code for a coupled electromagnetoelastic analysis of a
crack under mode-I conditions. Further they proposed a systematic
strategy for the analysis of electromagnetic natural boundary con-
dition (EM-NBC) and compared the results with those obtained
from the traditional impermeable and permeable crack-face elec-
tromagnetic boundary conditions. Li et al. [13] investigated the
fracture behaviors of two-dimensional planar and axisymmetric
problems of MEE materials using meshless local Petrov–Galerkin
(MLPG) scheme coupled with finite element method (FEM).
Nowadays, the developments in the computational field have
motivated many researchers to work in the field of crack propaga-
tion of quasi-static crack(s). Park and Sun [14] proposed the strain
energy release rate or maximal mechanical energy release rate cri-
terion to study the crack propagation in piezoelectric materials.
Kumar and Singh [15,16] applied the finite element technique to
study the crack propagation in piezoelectric materials under com-
bined mechanical and electrical loadings using the criterion of
maximum energy release rate. Xu and Rajapakse [17] presented a
theoretical model to study a branched crack in piezoelectric mate-
rial, and to predict the crack propagation angle a modified hoop
stress intensity factor based fracture criterion was implemented.
Few papers are available in literature on the crack propagation
in MEE materials. Sih et al. [18–20] proposed the strain energy
density function criterion to study the crack initiation and crack
propagation in these materials under different parametric studies
such as volume fractions, piezomagnetic and piezoelectric poling
and electric/magnetic loading.
The extended finite element method (X-FEM) proposed by Moës
et al. [21] and Belytchko and Black [22] proved to be a very efficient
tool for the numerical modeling of crack propagation in LEFM. Vec-
tor level sets defined by Ventura et al. [23] in conjugation with X-
FEM efficiently handle the crack propagation problems with less
computational cost. Huang et al. [24] implemented the X-FEM to
study the propagation of different types of cracks such as center
crack, inclined crack, arc shaped crack and multiple cracks of
mud-cracks-pattern in isotropic and layered materials. Be’chet
et al. [25] and Laborde et al. [26] proposed the geometrical/fixed
area enrichment scheme to the conventional X-FEM approximation
in order to improve the convergence rates in the classical X-FEM.
The main idea behind this strategy is to enrich a whole fixed area
around the crack tip. Yazid et al. [27] and Belytschko et al. [28] pre-
sented a review of X-FEM applied to various engineering problems.
Recently, Rojas-Dı ´ az et al. [29,30] extended the idea of X-FEM in
piezoelectric materials (proposed by Be’chet et al. [31]) to the
MEE materials.
In the past, only few researchers [14–20] have contributed to
the study of crack propagation on piezoelectric/MEE materials
and employed maximum hoop stress, maximum energy release
rate, strain energy density function and maximum hoop stress
intensity factor criterion. But most of these criterions are based
on isotropic fracture toughness. It has been found that in aniso-
tropic materials the theoretical predictions obtained from maxi-
mum modified hoop stress intensity factor and considering
anisotropic fracture toughness [32,33] are in good agreement with
experimental results. Recently, Janski’s et al. [34] applied the same
criteria to study the crack propagation in piezoelectric media using
adaptive finite element technique.
In magnetoelectroelastic fracture problems another important
issue is the consideration of the crack face boundary conditions.
Most of the researchers [5,8–11,13,18–20,29,30] implemented
the impermeable crack face boundary conditions, in which crack
faces are electrically and magnetically insulated. The other ideal
crack face boundary conditions are permeable one in which the
crack faces are electrically and magnetically conductive [1,4,5].
But the most realistic crack face boundary conditions are
considered to be the semi-permeable [7,12,35,36] which are in
between these two ideal boundary conditions. More recently, Ro-
jas-Dı´ as et al. [35] implemented the different crack face bound-
ary conditions on the Griffith’s crack and multiple parallel cracks
using Dual BEM. The iterative scheme proposed by Denda [36]
for semi-permeable crack face boundary conditions are extended
to 2-D magnetoelectroelastic solids, and to implement this itera-
tive scheme one may require the impermeable solution as an
initial solution. It is also found that the IFs/mechanical energy
release rate calculated using impermeable boundary conditions
are reasonable approximation to the semi-permeable boundary
conditions when the medium between the crack surfaces is ta-
ken as air or vacuum. Further, the implementation of these con-
ditions with FEM/X-FEM requires the more computational
efforts/cost. Therefore, in this paper authors adopted the ideal
impermeable boundary conditions for the study of collinear
cracks.
The present paper addresses the quasi-static and propagating
problems of two-unequal-collinear cracks in 2-D MEE specimen
using X-FEM. On crack rims impermeable conditions are assumed
to exist. Using interaction integral with near tip behavior given
by the Stroh formalism the IFs are calculated. After presenting
the basic equations and crack tip fields in Sections 2 and 3, the ex-
tended finite element approximation is discussed in Section 4 for
making the paper self-sufficient. To verify the accuracy of the mod-
els and X-FEM codes, numerical validation for Griffith’s crack and
two equal collinear edge/centered cracks is done in Section 5.
The parametric studies of IFs and ERR with respect to inter-crack
space, crack lengths, electrical/mechanical/magnetic loadings
along with symmetrical and asymmetrical situated cracks are pre-
sented for two-unequal-collinear cracks in MEE ceramic in Section
6. A problem of an edge crack situated with an internal crack is also
derived as a special case of two-unequal-collinear cracks in this
section. The crack propagation paths of two unequal/equal-collin-
ear edge cracks have been simulated using X-FEM and Level Set
Method in Section 7. Modified hoop stress intensity factor criterion
in conjugation with anisotropic fracture toughness parameter for
polarized ceramic is used for these investigations. A parametric
study of crack propagation is carried with respect to mesh discret-
ization, crack propagation length, domain radius, volume fraction
and prescribed mechanical, electrical and magnetic loadings. For
both the cases considered the results obtained by X-FEM are vali-
dated with the existing results available in literature. In Section
8, effect of volume fraction and material constants are investigated
on the set of standard eight basis functions defined for MEE mate-
rials. And the last section reports the conclusions of the work done
in the paper.
2. Basic equations for magnetoelectroelastic media
The fundamental equations and the boundary conditions for
linear MEE media are.
2.1. Field equations
In a fixed rectangular coordinate system xj (j = 1, 2, 3), the field
equations for a linear MEE medium are:
 Constitutive equations
rij ¼ C ijks eks  esij Es  hsij Hs ; ð1Þ
Di ¼ eiks eks þ jis Es þ bis Hs ; ð2Þ
Bi ¼ hiks eks þ bis Es þ cis Hs : ð3Þ
 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98 77

rffiffiffiffiffi
 Kinematic equations 2r P N
ui ðr; hÞ ¼ K d ðhÞ; ð17Þ
1
eij ¼ ðui;j þ uj;i Þ; Ei ¼ /;i ; Hi ¼ u;i : ð4Þ
pN N i
rffiffiffiffiffi
2 2r P
/ðr; hÞ ¼ K mN ðhÞ; ð18Þ
 Equilibrium equations for stresses, electric displacements and pN N
magnetic inductions in the absence of body forces, free electric rffiffiffiffiffi
2r P
charges and free magnetic currents, respectively, may be writ- uðr; hÞ ¼ K N wN ðhÞ; ð19Þ
ten as
p N

rij;j ¼ 0; Di;i ¼ 0; Bi;i ¼ 0;
where rij, eij, Di, Ei, Bi and Hi denote the components of the stress,
strain, electric-displacement, electric field, magnetic induction and
magnetic field, respectively; Cijks, eiks, hiks and bis denote the elastic,
piezoelectric, piezomagnetic and electromagnetic constants,
respectively; jis and cis denote the dielectric permittivities and
magnetic permeabilities, respectively. Comma denotes partial dif-
ferentiation with respect to argument following it; u is the elastic
displacement vector; / is the electric potential; and u is the mag-
netic potential; where i, j, k and s = 1, 2, 3.
ð5Þ where i, j = 1, 2, and the summation over N = {II, I, III, IV, V} com-
prises the mechanical stress intensity factors (SIFs) mode-I, mode-
II, mode-III cases, and are denoted by KI, KII, KIII, respectively. And
KIV and KV denote the electric displacement intensity factor (EDIF)
and magnetic induction intensity factor (MIIF), respectively. In case
of two-dimensional MEE problem, KIII = 0.The functions
N
fijN ðhÞ; g Ni ðhÞ; qNi ðhÞ; di ðhÞ; v N ðhÞ and wN(h), are the standard angular
functions for a crack in a homogeneous MEE medium depending
on the material properties. These expressed in terms of complex
material eigenvalues pa, eigenvectors AMa and matrices MMa and
NaN using extended Stroh formalism in conjugation with semi-ana-
lytical calculations (Ref. Rao and Kuna [37]).

2.2. Boundary conditions

4. Extended finite element approximation
Consider a MEE medium occupying the space X enclosed by
Modeling of cracks using FEM is cumbersome in 2-D for com-
surface S. On the boundaries Sr, SD, and SB the resultant of stresses,
electric displacements and magnetic inductions are, respectively, plex structures or crack geometries. But in X-FEM finite element
mesh needs not to conform to the crack boundaries to account
rij nj ¼ t0j ; on Sr ; ð6Þ for the geometric discontinuity, and it avoids remeshing as the
Dj nj ¼ x0 ; on SD ; ð7Þ crack grows.
The essential idea of X-FEM is to use a displacement field
Bj nj ¼ x 0 ; on SB ; ð8Þ
approximation that can model an arbitrary discontinuity and the
where t0j ; 0 0
x and x are prescribed values on surface Sr, SD and SB, near crack tip asymptotic fields using the concept of partition of
respectively. nj is the jth component of the outward drawn unit nor- unity. To represent a crack Level Set Method (LSM) is applied
mal vector on S. On the boundaries Su, S/ and Su, the displacement [38,39].
vector u, the electric potential / and the magnetic potential u are,
respectively 4.1. Enriched approximation
uj ¼ u0j ; on Su ; ð9Þ
The extended finite element approximation for the displace-
0
/ ¼ / ; on S/ ; ð10Þ ment, electric potential and magnetic potential employing the
impermeable boundary conditions defined in Section 2.3 at the
u ¼ u0 ; on Su : ð11Þ crack surface is expressed as:
P P
uh ðx; yÞ ¼ NI ðx; yÞuI þ NI ðx; yÞðHðf h ðx; yÞÞ  HðfI ÞÞaI
2.3. Impermeable crack conditions I2N I2Ncr

P 8  
P    k
þ NI ðx; yÞ F k r; h; are im
k ; ak  F k xI ; yI ; are im
k ; ak bI
In case of impermeable conditions on the upper and lower faces I2NTIP k¼1
Sc, of the crack
ð20Þ
Dj nj ¼ 0; on Sc ; ð12Þ
P P
Bj nj ¼ 0; on Sc : ð13Þ /h ðx; yÞ ¼ NI ðx; yÞ/I þ NI ðx; yÞðHðf h ðx; yÞÞ  HðfI ÞÞcI
I2N I2Ncr

P 8  
P    k
3. Crack tip fields in homogeneous magnetoelectroelastic media þ NI ðx; yÞ F k r; h; are im
k ; ak  F k xI ; yI ; are im
k ; ak dI
I2NTIP k¼1

The mechanical stress, electrical displacement and magnetic ð21Þ

induction fields for cracked homogeneous transversely isotropic P P
MEE media may be written asymptotically in polar coordinates uh ðx; yÞ ¼ NI ðx; yÞuI þ NI ðx; yÞðHðf h ðx; yÞÞ  HðfI ÞÞsI
I2N I2Ncr
(r, h) {with the origin at the crack tip} as (Ref. Rao and Kuna [37])
P 8  
P    k
1 P N I ðx; yÞ F k r; h; are im
 F k xI ; yI ; are im
rij ðr; hÞ ¼ pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi K N fijN ðhÞ; ð14Þ þ k ; ak k ; ak tI
2pr N I2NTIP k¼1

ð22Þ
1 P
Di ðr; hÞ ¼ pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi K N g Ni ðhÞ; ð15Þ
2pr N where H(f(x, y)) is a modified Heaviside step function
 
1 P 1 if z1 < 0
Bi ðr; hÞ ¼ pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi K N qNi ðhÞ; ð16Þ Hðz1 Þ ¼ ð23Þ
2pr N þ1 if z1 > 0
and the near tip displacement field, electrical potential and mag- And the shape functions, NI(x, y), are isoparametric linear quadrilat-
netic potential may be written as eral element shape functions. The column matrices uI, /I and uI are
78 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98

the nodal displacements, electric potential and magnetic potential, 5. Numerical validation
k k
respectively, and aI ; bI ; cI ; dI ; sI and t kI are the additional parameters.
k
 re im

F r; h; ak ; ak is the basis for the crack tip defined in [29,30] as This section mainly focused on the numerical validation of the
k
  pffiffiffi pffiffiffi pffiffiffi pffiffiffi pffiffiffi pffiffiffi pffiffiffi pffiffiffi
IFs/energy release rate evaluated here using X-FEM to the estab-
F r;h; are im
k ; ak ¼ rf1 ðhÞ; r f2 ðhÞ; rf3 ðhÞ; rf4 ðhÞ; rf5 ðhÞ; r f6 ðhÞ; rf7 ðhÞ; rf8 ðhÞ
lished analytical/numerical results. The following analyses have
ð24Þ
been made to justify the models and numerical approach consid-
where ered in this paper:
8  
>  re im  wm ðh;are
m ;am Þ
im
1. Numerical validation for Griffith–Irwin’s crack in an infinite
>
> q h; a ; a cos if aim
m > 0
>
< m m m 2
domain.
fm ðhÞ ¼   ð25Þ 2. Comparison with results of Li & Lee [10] for center crack
>
>  
>
> wm ðh;are
m ;am Þ
im
problem
: qm h; are im
m ; am sin 2
if aim
m >0
3. Numerical validation for double edge collinear cracks in a finite
im specimen
The complex numbers am ¼ are m þ iam are the eight roots of the char- 4. Numerical validation for two equal centered collinear cracks in
acteristic Eq. (A.9) of Appendix A. The modified angle and radius are an infinite domain
of the form
 
  p h To achieve the numerical results, the X-FEM models are de-
wm h; are
m ; aim
m ¼ þ p int signed with bilinear quadrilateral elements on a structured mesh
2 p
     h ! and in conjugation with the conventional topological/geometrical
cos h  pint ph þ are m sin h  pint p
 arctan    ; ð26Þ enrichment scheme. A 2  2 Gaussian quadrature rule is employed
aim sin h  pint h
m p for every non-enriched element, while more integration points, e.g.
 re im 
qm h; am ; am 4  4, is applied to non-partitioned enriched elements, especially
rffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
h  i ffi for enriched elements partitioned into sub-triangles, even higher-
1 4  re   im 2  re  2  2
¼ pffiffiffi am þ am þ am sin 2h  are m þ a im
m  1 cos 2h ; order Gaussian rules, e.g. 6  6, can be utilizable for each sub-trian-
2 gle. The domain radius for the interaction integral is taken 0.8a.
ð27Þ The total energy release rate (TERR), GT, and mechanical energy re-
lease rate (MERR), GM, are calculated using
where
qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi 1 
r¼ ðx  xtip Þ2 þ ðy  ytip Þ2 ; GT ¼ Y 22 K2I þ 2Y 24 KI KIV þ 2Y 45 KIV KV þ Y 44 K2IV þ Y 55 K 2V ;
2
1 
h = atan2(y  ytip, is the four-quadrant inverse tangent function; GM ¼ Y 22 K 2I þ Y 24 KI KIV þ Y 25 KI KV ; ð29Þ
2
x  xtip)
N is the set of all nodes in the discretization; where ymn(m, n = 2, 4, 5) evaluated from the Irwin matrix Y [37].
NTIP the set of all nodes that are connected to The plain-strain case is considered with tensile loading ryy = r1
elements containing crack tip (s); in-plane electric-displacement Dy = D1 and in-plane magnetic
Ncr the set of nodes that are connected to induction By = B1 prescribed on the remote boundary of a 2-D
elements containing the crack but not in NTIP. MEE specimen. The material is assumed to be a composite consist-
ing of piezoelectric phase BaTiO3 and piezomagnetic phase Co-
Fe2O4, and material constants presented in Table 1 are taken
from Li and Lee [10].
The set of nodes selected on the basis of conventional topolog-
ical and the geometrical enrichment are shown in Fig. 1. Substitut- 5.1. Numerical validation for Griffith–Irwin’s crack in an infinite
ing approximate displacement from Eq. (20), electric potential domain
from Eq. (21) and magnetic potential from Eq. (22) into the weak
´ az [30], the standard discrete system
form illustrated by Rojas-Dı To analyze the fracture parameters, Griffith’s crack in an infinite
of equations are obtained as: domain is considered with the applied loading conditions
ryy = r1 = 5 MPa, Dy = D1 2(e33/c33)ryyC/m2 and By = B1 = 2(h33/
K s d ¼ f ext ð28Þ
c33)ryy NA1 m1 at infinity as shown in Fig. 2. The polarization
s ext
where j is the vector of external nodal forces and f the stiffness direction is taken along Y-axis. The numerical computations are
matrix. made on a finite specimen with dimensions 4  4 and a crack

Topological enrichment Geometrical enrichment

Fig. 1. The set of nodes selected for enrichment.

 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98 79

Table 1
Material constants for BaTiO3–CoFe2O4.

Properties BaTiO3–CoFe2O4 (Vf = 0.5)

Elastic constants C11 = 226 GPa C12 = 125.0 GPa
C13 = 124 GPa C33 = 216.0 GPa
C44 = 44.0 GPa
Piezoelectric constants e15 = 5.8 C/m2 e31 =  2.2 C/m2
e33 = 9.3 C/m2
Piezomagnetic constants h15 = 275.0 NA1 m1 h31 = 290.2 NA1 m1
h33 = 350.0 NA1 m1
Electromagnetic constants b11 = 5.367  1012 Ns V1 C1 b33 = 2737.5  1012 Ns V1 C1
Permittivity j11 = 5.64 nC/Vm j33 = 6.35 nC/Vm
Permeability c11 = 2.97  104Ns2 C2 c33 = 0.835  104 Ns 2C2

1
10

errW
0
10

Topological-Standard(slope~0.5)
Topological-Four basis(slope~0.5)
Without enrichment(slope~0.48)
Geometrical enrichment(rg=0.2a)-slope~1.0
-1
10
1 2
10 10
Fig. 2. Griffith’s crack normal to polarization direction in an infinite domain.
1/he

Fig. 3. Convergence of error in energy norm with respect to 1/he for Griffith’s crack.
length, 2a = 1. As the computational domain is finite, thus the exact
solutions for Griffith’s crack in an infinite domain are applied as the
boundary conditions for such finite computational domain. The ex-
act solution for the symmetric MEE Griffith problem without shear -1
10
at infinity with poling direction perpendicular to the crack is ex-
tended here by the authors and presented in Appendix A.
(KI(exact) - KI(X-FEM)) / KI(exact)

5.1.1. Convergence study in the energy norm

-2
The convergence study in the energy norm is investigated by 10
comparing the exact solutions of the Griffith’s crack to the numer-
ical solution of the same problem on a finite computational do-
main. The error in the total energy norm is given by
-3
errW 10
sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
Z
Topological-Standard
1         
ex Topological-Four basis
¼ cijkl eij  eex ij ekl  eex kl þ jij Ei Ei Ej Eex j þ cij Hi Hex i Hj Hex j dV
2 Without enrichment
ð30Þ Geometrical enrichment(rg=0.2a)

ex ex -4
where eex
j ; Ej and Hj are the strain, electric field and magnetic field
10
1 2
components obtained from the exact solution given in Appendix A. 10 10
The error in the total energy norm with respect to the number 1/he
of elements per unit length is plotted on a log–log scale in Fig. 3.
Fig. 4. Relative error in KI with respect to 1/he for Griffith’s crack.
The results in the total energy norm are analyzed using the topo-
logical and the geometrical enrichment strategies. A radius of
0.2a is applied to the geometrical enrichment and both are com- Furthermore, the results using the X-FEM converge better than
pared with the cases of topological four basis and without enrich- that using without enrichment functions.
ment. A convergence rate of 0.5 is obtained for the both topological
enrichment cases whereas the geometrical one achieves the higher
convergence rate than the classical X-FEM, i.e. 1.0. It is also 5.1.2. Convergence study in the intensity factors
observed that the results of four basis functions are in good Figs. 4–6 present the convergence study of the IF KI, KIV & KV
approximation to the standard eight basis functions defined for versus the number of elements per unit length in each direction,
MEE materials and this is in agreement to Rojás-Diaz et al. [30]. respectively. An excellent agreement of the relative errors in the
80 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98

-1 7
10 K I (X-FEM)
K I (10 5 Nm -3/2 )
Topological-Standard K I (Exact/Li&Lee)

Topological-Four basis 6 K IV(X-FEM) K IV (10-4 Cm -3/2 )

(KIV(exact) - KIV(X-FEM)) / KIV(exact)

Without enrichment K IV(Exact/Li&Lee)

Geometrical enrichment(rg=0.2a) K V (X-FEM) K V (10 -3 NA-1m 1/2 )
5

Fracture Parameters
K V (Exact/Li&Lee)
G T (N/m)
GT (X-FEM)
4 GT (Exact/Li&Lee)
-2
10
3

-3
10 0
10
1
10
2 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
1/he half-crack length

Fig. 5. Relative error in KIV with respect to 1/he for Griffith’s crack. Fig. 7. Variation of IFs and TERR with respect to half-crack length for center crack.

-1
10
Topological-Standard
Topological-Four basis
(KV(exact) - KV(X-FEM)) / KV(exact)

Without enrichment
Geometrical enrichment(rg=0.2a)

-2
10

-3
10
1 2
10 10
1/he

Fig. 6. Relative error in KV with respect to 1/he for Griffith’s crack.

KI, KIV, and KV is observed for standard eight basis functions with
respect to 1/he. In this investigation, we again found the same as
accounted for the total energy norm errors. The geometrical
enrichment is better than the topological one and further both
these enrichment approaches are significantly better than the
one without enrichment case. A slightly higher accuracy is found
for the standard eight basis functions than the four basis functions.
5.2. Comparison with results of Li and Lee [10] for center crack
problem
A finite specimen of width 2w = 30 mm, length 2h = 30 mm is
taken for the analysis. Since, the computational domain is finite
so the applied loadings are considered from the exact solution as
in Section 5.1. The domain radius for the interaction integral is ta-
ken 0.8a. Results of KI, KIV, KV and TERR are calculated for different
crack lengths, and are shown in Fig. 7. A structured mesh with
99  99 elements in conjugation with topological and standard
eight basis functions is considered for the numerical calculations.
It is observed that the results of IFs and TERR obtained using X-
FEM are in close agreement with the results of Li and Lee [10]/exact
results.
Fig. 8. Model geometry of the double edge collinear cracks.
5.3. Numerical validation for double edge collinear cracks in a finite
specimen
A double edge collinear crack problem in a finite MEE specimen
having dimensions 4  8 is considered. The length of each edge
crack is taken as a = 0.5 such that a/w = 0.25. The applied loadings
on the boundary of a finite specimen are ryy = 5 MPa, Dy =
1010ryy C/m2 and By = 109ryy NA1 m1. The model geometry,
loadings and the symmetric boundary conditions considered are
shown in Fig. 8. The results obtained using X-FEM are compared
with the results of BEM given by Rojás-Diaz et al. [30] for a finite
MEE specimen. The relative errors of IFs corresponding to BEM
results are plotted on a log–log scale with respect to number of ele-
ments per unit length (1/h e) and shown in Figs. 9–11. An excellent
agreement of the X-FEM and BEM results are obtained with respect
to number of elements per unit length. Here too, we observe that
the geometrical enrichment is better than the topological one and
further X-FEM results are significantly better than the without
enrichment case. A good approximation of four and eight standard
basis functions is found for KI and KIV but in case of KV a slightly
 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98 81

10
-1 5.4. Numerical validation for two equal centered collinear cracks in an
infinite domain

In this subsection a specimen of size 2w = 2h = 30 mm with two

(KI(BEM) - KI(X-FEM)) / KI(BEM)

equal centered collinear cracks of length 2a = 4.0 mm (such that w/

a = 7.5) and inter-crack space 0.5a mm is considered. The model
geometry of this problem is shown in Fig. 12. The results of
-2
mechanical energy release rate (GM) obtained using X-FEM are
10
compared with the results of Tian and Gabbert [40] under uniform
mechanical and electrical displacement loading, i.e. ryy = 5 MPa
and Dy = 108ryy C/m2, respectively but under different magnetic
Topological-Standard
Topological-Four basis
induction loadings By = 0, 106ryy and 106ryy NA1 m1.
Without enrichment Fig. 13 shows the relative errors of mechanical energy release rate
Geometrical enrichment(rg=0.2a) with respect to a/he on a log–log scale for different magnetic induc-
tion loadings. The numerical results of X-FEM are obtained on a
10
-3
structured mesh with standard eight basis functions and topologi-
1 2
10 10 cal enrichment scheme. It is clearly seen from Fig. 13 that X-FEM
1/he results converges to Tian and Gabbert[40] results for two equal

Fig. 9. Relative error in KI with respect to 1/he for double edge cracks.

-1
10
(KIV(BEM) - KIV(X-FEM)) / KIV(BEM)

-2
10

Topological-Standard
Topological-Four basis
Without enrichment
Geometrical enrichment(rg=0.2a)

-3
10
1 2
10 10
1/he

Fig. 10. Relative error in KIV with respect to 1/he for double edge cracks.

0 Fig. 12. Model geometry of the two equal collinear cracks.

10
Topological-Standard
Topological-Four basis
-1
Without enrichment 10
(KV(BEM) - KV(X-FEM)) / KV(BEM)

-1 Geometrical enrichment(rg=0.2a)
10 GM (By =10-6σ yy )

GM (By =-10-6σ yy )
(GM(X-FEM) - GM(Tian)) / GM(Tian)

GM (By =0)
-2
10

-3
10
σyy=5MPa

-8
Dy = 10 σyy
-4
10
1 2
10 10
1/he
-2
10
0 1 2
Fig. 11. Relative error in KV with respect to 1/he for double edge cracks. 10 10 10
a/he
higher accuracy can be seen for standard eight basis functions than
the four basis functions. Fig. 13. Relative error in GM with respect to a/he for two equal collinear cracks.
82 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98

collinear cracks with respect to number of elements on a crack Table 2

length. The results obtained in case of applied zero magnetic Domain independence study at outer tips of two-unequal-collinear cracks.

induction show better convergence rate than the other two cases rd/d0 Tip a1 Tip b2
of applied magnetic induction loadings. Kffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
p I ffi K IV
p ffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi Kffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
p V ffi Kffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
p I ffi K ffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
p IV ffi Kffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
p V ffi
ryy pa01 Dy pa01 By pa01 ryy pa02 Dy pa02 By pa01

0.47 1.174 1.171 1.166 1.126 1.127 1.149

6. Numerical simulation for two-unequal-collinear cracks 0.53 1.165 1.163 1.159 1.238 1.238 1.241
0.67 1.165 1.163 1.160 1.239 1.238 1.240
Once the numerical validation of X-FEM results has been estab- 0.80 1.166 1.163 1.160 1.239 1.238 1.241
lished for the Griffith’s crack and the two equal collinear edge/cen- 0.93 1.166 1.163 1.160 1.240 1.238 1.241
1.07 1.166 1.163 1.160 1.240 1.238 1.241
tered cracks, the X-FEM simulation of two-unequal-collinear
cracks on a finite MEE specimen is investigated for different para-
metric studies in this section.
For this study a specimen of width 2w = 30 mm, length Table 3
2h = 30 mm and two unequal cracks of lengths 2a01 = 6.0 mm and Domain independence study at inner tips of two-unequal-collinear cracks.

2a02 = 4.0 mm and inter-crack space d0 = 1.5 mm is considered. rd/d0 Tip a1 Tip b2
The offset distances of left crack and the right crack from the edge Kffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
p I ffi K ffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
p IV ffi Kffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
p V ffi Kffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
p I ffi K ffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
p IV ffi Kffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
p V ffi
ryy pa01 Dy pa01 By pa01 ryy pa02 Dy pa02 By pa01
of specimen are b11 and b12, respectively. Boundaries of specimen
are prescribed in-plane loading ryy = r1 = 5 MPa, an electric dis- 0.47 1.191 1.189 1.195 1.305 1.306 1.317
0.53 1.317 1.315 1.300 1.450 1.451 1.437
placement, Dy = D1 = 2(e33/c33)ryy C/m2 and magnetic induction
0.67 1.319 1.316 1.300 1.453 1.452 1.437
By = B1 = 2(h33/c33)ryy NA1 m1. The entire configuration is sche- 0.75 1.310 1.312 1.300 1.451 1.450 1.434
matically shown in Fig. 14. MEE material, BaTiO3–CoFe2O4 with
volume fraction, Vf = 0.5 is chosen for study. A structured mesh
with 99  99 bilinear quadrilateral elements and topological
6.2.1. Effect of aspect ratio
enrichment approach is considered for the numerical solution.
In this section length, 2 h, of the specimen is varied from 10 mm
to 40 mm, whereas other geometric parameters and the loadings
6.1. Domain independence
remain the same as defined in Section 6. The number of elements
in the mesh is taken according to the dimensions of the specimen
Tables 2 and 3 show the normalized values of IFs at the outer
such that length of the element is approximately equal to 0.25 mm.
tips and inner tips of the cracks with respect to the domain radius
Fig. 15 shows the variation of TERR with respect to the aspect ratio,
rd/d0 (in case of d0 < a02), respectively. It is concluded from these ta-
h/w, at inner and outer tips of both the cracks. It is observed that
bles that the domain independence at the outer and inner tips of
TERR stabilizes for aspect ratio h/w P 1. Hence, a square specimen
both the cracks are observed for the same value of rd P 0.53d0.
is sufficient to consider the effects of far field loadings. The devia-
Similarly, domain independence is also observed for rd = 0.5a02
tion at the low aspect ratio is because of the applied loads at the
(in case of d0 P a02). Therefore, in further subsections, rd = 0.53d0
finite specimen boundaries still affect the TERR.
(for d0 < a02) and rd = 0.6a02 (for d0 P a02) are fixed for the domain
radius at outer and inner tips.
6.2.2. Effect of offset distances
6.2. Effect of finite specimen Now, the effect of finiteness of specimen on TERR is observed by
varying the dimensions of specimen 2w = 2h from 18 mm to
To study the finite specimen effects the following analyses have 38 mm. The cracks lengths and the inter-crack space are fixed,
been investigated: 2a01 = 6.0 mm, 2a02 = 4.0 mm, and d0 = 1.5 mm, respectively. For
numerical simulation number of elements is chosen in such a
way that the length of an element is approximately equal to
0.25 mm. Fig. 16 depicts variation of TERR with increasing values

Fig. 15. Variations of TERR versus aspect ratio analysis for two-unequal-collinear
Fig. 14. Model geometry of the two-unequal-collinear cracks. cracks.
 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98 83

crack considered. It may be noted from the graphs that effect of

two-collinear-cracks is more when they are of comparable lengths.
The behavior of the TERR at the four tips of two cases of crack
lengths considered, matches with those of Li and Lee [10].
It may be noted from Fig. 7 that in case of center crack problem
a semi-crack length 3.0 mm and under the same applied loading,
the TERR is more than 1.50 N/m. These obtained results are also
in agreement with those of Li and Lee [10]/exact results.
However the results of TERR {presented in reference [10] for
two-unequal-collinear cracks in a MEE material having half-crack
lengths a01 = 3.0 mm, a02 = 2.0 mm and inter crack space
d0 P 1.0 mm} is lower than 1.50 N/m, which seems to be errone-
ous on physical grounds. Since the presence of another crack of
comparable crack length cannot decrease the TERR lower than that
in case of a single center crack. Hence, there may be a possibility of
computational error in the results of TERR given by Li and Lee [10].
The results of TERR obtained by our model depicted in Fig. 17,
show that the presence of second crack increases the TERR, as
expected.
Fig. 16. Effect of offset distance on TERR for two-unequal-collinear cracks.

6.4. Effect of crack length

Fig. 18 depicts the variation at the four tips of the cracks with
respect to the increase in smaller crack length when the bigger
crack length is kept fixed. TERR increases at all the tips of the
cracks when length of the smaller crack is increased. It may also
be noted that TERR is higher at inner tips of the cracks than those
at outer tips, as expected. For two equal collinear cracks the values
of TERR become equal at inner/outer tips of bigger crack with the
corresponding values of inner/outer tips of the smaller crack. The
behavior of TERR at inner and outer tips of both the cracks are sim-
ilar to that in Ref. [10] Li and Lee.

6.5. Effect of orientation of cracks

TERR is calculated for different values of d0 to understand the

effect of symmetry of the cracks about an axis placed at center of
the specimen and perpendicular to the crack length. In this study,
asymmetric case ðd1 – qd2 Þ of two-unequal-collinear crack is
considered by varying d1 and fixing d2 = 0.5 mm (for all values
Fig. 17. Effect of inter-crack space on TERR for two-unequal-collinear cracks.
of d0 = d1 + d2). The dimensions of the specimen and loading
conditions are the same as concluded in Section 6.2. A mesh
of b11/2a01. It is observed that the TERR value stabilizes for the off- with 119  119 elements and two unequal cracks of length
set distance, b11 is greater than 2.76a01. Almost similar behavior is 2a01 = 6.0 mm and 2a02 = 4.0 mm are considered.
noted for the TERR with respect to the ratio of other offset distance
b12 to the other crack length, b12/2a02. It is concluded from the
behavior of the TERR for a specimen of width greater than or equal
to 5 times and offset distances greater than or equal to 1.38 times
the length of a bigger crack may be considered as an infinite do-
main for the present set up.
Therefore, considering the finite specimen effect and aspect ratio
analysis a square specimen of dimensions 2w = 2h = 30.0 mm, crack
lengths 2a01 = 6.0 mm and 2a02 = 4.0 mm and inter-crack space
d0 = 1.5 mm is considered in subsequent subsections of Section 6.

6.3. Effect of inter-crack space

Fig. 17 shows the behavior of total energy release rate with re-
spect to increase in inter-crack space. The analysis is done for two
different crack lengths taken for smaller crack, a02 = 2.0 mm and
1.0 mm, respectively. It is observed that the TERR is more at the in-
ner tips of the cracks than that at the outer tips of the cracks. It is
further noted that increasing inter-crack space d0; the mutual
influence of cracks on each other decreases. Consequently, TERR
at the inner and outer tips becomes equal for both lengths of short Fig. 18. Effect of crack length on TERR for two-unequal-collinear cracks.
84 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98

Fig. 19. Effect of symmetry about x2 axis for two-unequal-collinear cracks.

The results of TERR obtained for asymmetric orientation case of Fig. 20. Model geometry of the special case of two-unequal-collinear cracks.
two-unequal-collinear cracks with respect to inter- crack space d0
is depicted in Fig. 19. These results for symmetric orientation
(d1 = d2) case are also plotted in the same figure. Fig. 19 shows that
the TERR decreases with increase in inter-crack distance for both
symmetric as well as asymmetric orientation cases (except at outer
tip a1, of bigger crack where TERR slightly increases). It may be
noted that in case of a bigger crack, the difference in TERR for sym-
metric and asymmetric orientation cases is not significant for
smaller values of d0 but as the inter-crack space, d0 is increased,
asymmetric orientation case gives energy release rate higher than
that in the symmetric one. This is the case when bigger crack is clo-
ser to the boundary of the finite specimen. TERR does not show a
significant difference at the tips of the smaller crack with respect
to inter-crack space considered here for symmetric and asymmet-
ric orientations. A similar variation of TERR is seen for smaller
crack in asymmetric orientation case when d1 is fixed and d2 is
varied.

6.5.1. Case of an edge and an internal crack

A special case of two-unequal-collinear cracks is considered
when bigger crack becomes an edge crack and the smaller crack,
an internal crack, with inter crack space d0. The model geometry
is shown in Fig. 20. Dimensions of the specimen, mesh and load-
ings are same as concluded in Section 6.2. An edge crack of length
2a01 = 6.0 mm and an internal crack 2a02 = 4.0 mm are considered
for the study. The variation of TERR for different values of d0 is
investigated. Fig. 21 indicates that TERR at the tip of an edge crack
is quite higher than at the tips of an internal crack, as expected. It is
interesting to note that when the distance between the two cracks
is less then TERR shows a non-linear decrease which becomes lin-
ear as the distance d0 is increased. TERR at both the tips of an inter-
nal crack becomes equal for high value d0, i.e. when the distance
between the cracks is more.
6.6. Effect of mechanical loadings
In this subsection the variation of TERR is studied with respect
to the variation in the mechanical loadings. The geometry and
mesh defined here are same as concluded in subsection 6.2.
Fig. 22 shows that TERR increases with respect to increase in the
mechanical loads. This is true at inner and outer tips of the un-
equal-collinear cracks.
Fig. 21. Variation of TERR with respect to inter-crack space for an internal crack and
edge crack.
6.7. Effect of electrical loads
Figs. 23 and 24, respectively, depict the behavior of TERR and
mechanical energy release rate (MERR) with respect to the varia-
tion in the electrical loadings Dy ¼ kd ðe33 =c33 Þryy C=m2 . The other
prescribed loadings are taken as mechanical, ryy = 5 MPa and mag-
netic, By = 0 NA1 m1. As expected, TERR and MERR depend on the
crack length and their values are more at the crack tips of a bigger
crack than at smaller crack tips. The values of TERR/MERR at the
inner tips of the cracks (in comparison to outer crack tips) also
confirm the mutual influence of two collinear cracks on each other.
TERR decreases symmetrically for kd = 2 as depicted in Fig. 23. This
shows that the TERR is independent of the direction of the applied
electrical loads. This is not in agreement of the experimental find-
ings. Therefore, total energy release rate cannot be considered as a
fracture parameter.
Fig. 24 shows that the MERR always increases by increasing
electrical loads, kd, and decreases by decreasing electrical loads. It
 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98 85

TERR and MERR shown in Figs. 23 and 24 matches with those of

Li and Lee [10] too.

6.8. Effect of magnetic loads

TERR and MERR are calculated with respect to variation in mag-

netic loadings By ¼ kb ðh33 =c33 Þryy NA1 m1 variations are plotted
in Figs. 25 and 26, respectively when other applied mechanical
load, ryy = 5 MPa and electric-displacement Dy = 0 C/m2 are kept
fixed. It is observed from these figures that the trends of TERR
and MERR show similar variation as in case of electrical loadings.
Fig. 25 shows that the TERR decreases symmetrically for kb = 0.
Therefore the TERR is independent of the direction of the applied
magnetic loads. This is in agreement with the available literature
on TERR but at the same time it is not conforming to the experi-
mental evidence. Therefore, total energy release rate cannot be
considered as a fracture criterion for MEE media.
Fig. 26 shows that the MERR always increases by increasing
magnetic loads, kb, and decreases with decrease in magnetic load-
Fig. 22. Effect of mechanical loading on TERR for two-unequal-collinear cracks.
ings. One may conclude from this behavior that negative and posi-
tive magnetic loadings always produce a shielding and unshielding
effect on crack growth, respectively. The trends and behavior of the
TERR and MERR shown in Figs. 25 and 26 match with those of Li
and Lee [10].

Fig. 23. Effect of electrical loading on TERR for two-unequal-collinear cracks.

Fig. 25. Effect of magnetic loading on TERR for two-unequal-collinear cracks.

Fig. 24. Effect of electrical loading on MERR for two-unequal-collinear cracks.

is in agreement with the experimental findings that negative and

positive electrical loadings always produce a shielding and
unshielding effect on crack growth, respectively. The behavior of Fig. 26. Effect of magnetic loading on MERR for two-unequal-collinear cracks.
86 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98

7. Numerical solution of quasi-static crack propagation of two-

collinear-edge cracks in MEE ceramic

It is well known from literature that there is no well established

fracture criterion so far for the piezoelectric and MEE ceramics. It
has been observed that all the results obtained from the extension
of basic fracture parameters of piezoelectric/MEE ceramics are not
in agreement to the experimental findings performed on these
materials. Consequently, an exact crack propagation criterion for
these materials is also not available in literature. Therefore, it re-
quires more experimental evidence to be carried out on these
materials.
Piezoelectric and MEE are polarized ceramics and so these are
anisotropic in nature. Therefore, the assumption of isotropic frac-
ture toughness may not be considered for these materials. Authors
are also convinced by the fact that for anisotropic materials, planes
of low fracture resistance occurs and it may be possible for a crack
to trap onto such planes where the hoop stress and energy release
rate may not be maximum. Therefore, using the anisotropic frac-
ture toughness and maximum modified hoop stress intensity fac-
Fig. 27. Model geometry of the Griffth’s problem.
tor criteria, crack propagation of two-unequal-collinear edge
cracks in MEE material is attempted in this section to highlight
the efficiency of X-FEM.
Hence, crack growth takes place along the direction hc where
the modified hoop stress intensity factor K⁄(h) is maximum, and
a crack propagates when

K  ðhc Þ P K c ðhc Þ: ð31Þ

⁄
The modified hoop stress intensity factor K (h) is given by

K  ðhÞ ¼ K aa ðhÞ=K c ðhÞ ð32Þ

where Kaa(h) represents the hoop stress intensity factor at an angle

h and Kc(h) is the anisotropic fracture toughness depending upon
the orientation. In case of piezoceramics, the two principal fracture
toughnesses are known: one along the poling direction (K0) and an-
other perpendicular to that direction (K90). Therefore, Kc(h) mea-
sures the fracture toughness at an angle, h given by
2
K c ðhÞ ¼ K 0 sin h þ K 90 cos2 h ð33Þ

where h is an angle with respect to an axis along the crack.

Experimental findings on PZT ceramics [41] showed that K0/K90
are in the range 1.15–2.36 and they have also fracture toughness in
pffiffiffiffiffi
the range of 0.2–2.0 MPa m.
As per the authors knowledge, fracture toughness data related
to MEE ceramics are not available in literature. But these ceramics
are composites of piezoelectric and piezomagnetic ceramics so
their fracture toughness can be considered within range of fracture
toughness for piezoceramics. Therefore, we assumed K0/K90 = 2 and
pffiffiffiffiffi
K 90 ¼ 1 MPa m for the further analysis. The crack propagation is
studied for MEE with volume fraction equal to 0.9996, implies
the material constants are almost equal to piezoceramics and then
simulated for other volume fractions such as 0.5 and 0.0724.
It has been found during this analysis that the standard eight
basis functions developed for MEE materials depend upon the vol-
ume fraction and the material constants. This is the main reason to
consider the volume fraction equal to 0.9996 and 0.0724 for com-
paring to piezoelectric and piezomagnetic ceramics, respectively.
The details of this anomaly associated with basis functions are pre-
sented in Section 8.
7.1. Validation part
To validate the results of modified hoop stress intensity factor
using X-FEM, model geometry for PZT-4 is shown in Fig. 27. A finite
plate of dimensions 2w = 2h = 2m is polarized along y-axis and is
Fig. 28. Mesh with local refinement defined for Griffth’s model.
subject to stresses ryy = 0.4 MPa, rxy = 0.1 MPa and an electric dis-
placement Dy = 0.0009 C/m2. The plate is cut along a symmetrically
situated and centrally oriented hairline straight crack of length,
2a = 0.02 m. The mesh with local refinement having 17,405 bilin-
ear quadrilateral elements is considered for the numerical results
using X-FEM and shown in Fig. 28.
The obtained IFs using X-FEM and from Griffith’s model (ana-
lytic/exact) are used to calculate the field variables and further
modified hoop stress intensity factor at any (r, h). Fig. 29 shows
the behavior of modified hoop stress intensity factor using IFs
(by exact and X-FEM method;) taking into account both isotropic
and anisotropic fracture toughness. The behavior of graphs, shown
in Fig. 29, is also similar to Janski’s et al. [34].
Fig. 29 and Table 4 show that the X-FEM results of modified
hoop stress intensity factor and critical angle for propagation are
in good agreement with exact results. Therefore, X-FEM with Level
Set Method can be considered as a vital tool for investigating the
crack propagation in piezoelectric ceramics/MEE ceramics using
modified hoop stress intensity factor and anisotropic fracture
toughness parameter.
 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98 87

Behavior of Modified Hoop Stress Intensity Factor

0.1
Isotropic K c (X-FEM)
Modified hoop stress intensity factor

Anisotropic K c (X-FEM)
0.08 Isotropic K c (Exact)
Anisotropic K c (Exact)

0.06

0.04

0.02

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
θ

Fig. 29. Behavior of modified hoop stress intensity factor with respect to h.
Fig. 30. Model geometry of two-unequal-collinear edge cracks in MEE material for
quasi-static crack propagation.
Table 4
Comparison of critical crack propagation angle.
crack. And crack propagation rate for bigger edge crack is less than
hc (anisotropic) hc (isotropic)
the smaller crack for all the incremental steps. It may be due to the
Exact 7.90° 28.20° fact of asymmetry of problem investigated. Further, it is seen that
X-FEM 7.99° 28.35°
the behavior of crack propagation paths for both bigger and smal-
Janski’s et al. [34] 7.0° 26.0°
ler cracks is not mesh sensitive in MEE ceramic and these approach
to a smoother curve with increase in number of elements.

7.2. Crack propagation of two-unequal-collinear edge cracks

7.2.2. Influence of crack growth increment
The effect of crack growth increment on crack propagation
The crack propagation of two-unequal-collinear edge cracks in
paths for both the bigger and smaller edge cracks is plotted in
MEE ceramic is investigated by considering the model geometry Fig. 32. It is observed that for a considered mesh, the propagating
as shown in Fig. 30.
path depends upon the crack growth incremental length and as ex-
For the numerical solution the following geometric and loading pected, a smoother path is noted for smaller crack growth incre-
parameters have been considered, if not mentioned:
mental length. But at the same time for more accurate results,
one should keep in mind that domain radius for interaction inte-
1. 2w = 5m, 2h = 10m, a = 1.5m and b = 1.0m.
gral does not include the blending elements, and it is also less than
2. ryy ¼ 5 MPa; rxx ¼ 0:25ryy ; Dy ¼ 2ðe33 =c33 Þryy C=m2 and or equal to the crack growth increment. Therefore, in further sub-
sections a crack growth increment, Da = 2.5he has been taken for
By ¼ 2ðh33 =c33 Þryy NA1 m1 : the analysis.
3. A MEE material: BaTiO3–CoFe2O4.
4. Structured mesh with size 79  159 bilinear quadrilateral
7.2.3. Influence of domain radius
elements.
The influence of domain radius on the crack propagation paths
5. Crack growth increment, Da = 2.5he.
of two-unequal-collinear edge cracks in MEE material is depicted
6. Extended bigger crack length = a + nDa, n represents the nth
in Fig. 33. It is clearly seen that effect of domain radius on crack
crack growth incremental step.
propagation path for bigger edge crack is not significant whereas
7. Extended smaller crack length = 2w  (b + nDa), n represents
it is almost independent for smaller edge crack. Therefore, keeping
the nth crack growth incremental step.
in mind of the crack growth increment, a domain radius rd = 2.0he
8. Domain radius for interaction integral, rd = 2.0he.
is taken in further subsections.
9. Volume fraction, Vf = 0.9996.
The above defined geometric and loading conditions satisfy the 7.2.4. Influence of volume fraction
Eq. (31). And the observed crack propagation paths in MEE ceramics In this section, the crack propagation paths of two-unequal-col-
depend upon the basic parameters namely mesh size, crack growth linear edge cracks for different volume fraction, Vf = 0.9996, 0.5 and
increment, domain radius, volume fraction and applied mechani- 0.0724 under the same assumption of anisotropic fracture tough-
cal/electrical/magnetic loadings. The subsequent subsections pres- ness is investigated, and shown in Fig. 34. To depict the propagat-
ent these studies to understand the influence of these parameters ing paths smoothly, a mesh with size 99  199 elements is
on the crack propagation of two-unequal-collinear edge cracks in considered.
MEE ceramic. It is observed that effect of volume fraction is not significant on
the crack propagation paths but still the numerical values shown in
7.2.1. Influence of mesh size Table 5 depict that crack propagation growth decreases with the
Fig. 31 shows the crack propagation paths for both bigger and increase in volume fraction. This is in agreement of crack propaga-
smaller cracks under different mesh sizes. It is observed that crack tion study based on strain energy density function given by
propagation paths for bigger crack are smoother than the smaller Sih et al. [18,20]. It may be due to the reason that higher volume
88 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98

-1 -5
69x139 69x139
-2 79x159 -10 79x159
89x179 89x179
99x199 99x199

Crack propagation angle

Crack propagation angle

-3 -15

-4 -20

-5 -25

-6 -30 Δa = 2.5*(5/79)

rd = = 2.0*(5/79)
-7 -35

-8 -40
1.5 2 2.5 3 2.8 3 3.2 3.4 3.6 3.8 4
Extended length of a bigger crack Extended length of a smaller crack

Fig. 31. Influence of mesh size on the crack propagation path of two-unequal-collinear edge cracks.

0.1 -5
Δ a = 3.5h e
-10
Δ a = 3.0h e
0.05
Δ a = 2.5h e -15
Crack propagation angle
Crack propagation angle

Δ a = 2.0h e
-20
0
he = 5/79
rd = 2.0he -25

-0.05
-30 Δ a = 3.5h e
Δ a = 3.0h e
-35
-0.1 Δ a = 2.5h e
-40 Δ a = 2.0h e

-0.15 -45
1.5 2 2.5 3 2.5 3 3.5 4
Extended length of a bigger crack Extended length of a smaller crack

Fig. 32. Influence of crack growth increment on the crack propagation path of two-unequal-collinear edge cracks.

-1 -5
rd = 2.0he rd = 2.0he

rd = 2.5he -10 rd = 2.5he

-2
rd = 3.0he rd = 3.0he
Crack propagation angle

Crack propagation angle

rd = 4.0he -15 rd = 4.0he

-3

-20
-4
-25

-5
he = 5/79
-30
Δ a = 2.5he
-6
-35

-7 -40
1.5 2 2.5 3 2.5 3 3.5 4
Extended length of a bigger crack Extended length of a smaller crack

Fig. 33. Influence of domain radius on the crack propagation path of two-unequal-collinear edge cracks.
 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98 89

20 10
Vf =0.9996 Vf =0.9996
5
15
Vf =0.5 Vf =0.5
0
Vf =0.0724 Vf =0.0724

Crack propagation angle

Crack propagation angle

-5
10

he = 5/99 -10

5 Δ a = 2.5he -15
rd = 2.0he
-20
0
-25

-30
-5
-35

-10 -40
1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
Extended length of a bigger crack Extended length of a smaller crack

Fig. 34. Influence of volume fraction on the crack propagation path of two-unequal-collinear edge cracks.

Table 5
Crack propagation angles at different incremental steps for two-unequal-collinear edge cracks in MEE ceramic with different volume fractions.

Incremental steps Bigger crack Smaller crack

Vf = 0.9996 Vf = 0.5 Vf = 0.0724 Vf = 0.9996 Vf = 0.5 Vf = 0.0724
0 2.85 2.85 2.85 5.35 5.40 5.50
1 4.60 4.60 4.65 6.55 6.60 6.85
2 5.75 5.80 5.95 9.30 9.45 9.95
3 6.60 6.70 6.85 11.70 11.75 11.95
4 6.75 6.80 6.95 14.0 14.65 14.95
5 6.85 6.90 7.15 20.50 21.20 21.85
6 6.70 6.80 6.95 30.20 30.70 31.25
7 5.70 5.80 5.95 35.30 35.65 35.95
8 3.65 3.65 3.95 33.65 34.05 34.85
9 0.10 0.35 0.55 25.05 25.45 26.50
10 5.25 5.40 5.90 15.10 15.20 15.95
11 10.25 10.30 10.95 0.20 2.10 2.65
12 15.85 16.40 16.70 6.95 7.15 7.55

fraction of MEE ceramic leads to material constants equivalent to

piezoelectric ceramics, and an electro-mechanical coupling has
more adverse effect on the energy release rate and crack propaga-
tion growth than the magneto–electro-mechanical coupling. This
fact has been already established for a quasi-static case in Sections
6.7 and 6.8.
The simulated crack propagation paths for two-unequal-collin-
ear edge cracks in MEE material with Vf = 0.9996 is also shown in
Fig. 35. 10m

7.2.5. Influence of mechanical loading

The effect of mechanical loading is observed by varying the ratio
of rxx/ryy from 0.25 to 1.0. The other applied in-plane electrical and
magnetic loadings remain same as defined in Section 7.2. Fig. 36
shows that increase in rxx/ryy significantly increases the crack
propagation growth rate for bigger edge crack and this behavior
is same at all the crack incremental steps. But the smaller edge
crack has not same behavior throughout, it increases with increase 5m
in rxx/ryy up to a fixed extended crack length but shows the re-
verse behavior after that. Fig. 35. Simulated crack propagation paths of two-unequal-collinear edge cracks in
MEE ceramic.

7.2.6. Influence of electrical loading

The effect of electrical loading on quasi-static crack propagation influence of electrical flux loading on crack propagation path of
case is attempted for different volume fractions in this section. bigger and smaller edge cracks for different volume fractions, Vf =
The analysis is carried for different electrical flux loadings Dy ¼ 0.9996, 0.5 and 0.0724, respectively. It may be noted from Fig. 37
kðe33 =c33 Þryy C=m2 , i.e. k = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4. Fig. 37 shows the that an increase in applied electrical flux loading decreases the
90 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98

0 -5
he = 5/79
σ xx = 0.25 σ yy
Δ a = 2.5he
rd = 2.0he
-10 σ xx = 0.5 σ yy
-5
σ xx = 0.75 σ yy

Crack propagation angle

Crack propagation angle

-15
σ xx = 1.0 σ yy
-10
-20

-25
-15

-30

-20
-35

-25 -40
1.5 2 2.5 3 2.5 3 3.5 4
Extended length of a bigger crack Extended length of a smaller crack

Fig. 36. Influence of mechanical loading on the crack propagation path of two-unequal-collinear edge cracks.
Crack propagation angle

0 Crack propagation angle 0

λ=0
-2 Vf = 0.9996 -10 Vf = 0.9996
λ=1
-4 λ=2 -20
λ=3
-6 -30

-8 -40
1.5 2 2.5 3 2.5 3 3.5 4
Extended length of a bigger crack Extended length of a smaller crack
Crack propagation angle

Crack propagation angle

0 0

-2 Vf = 0.5 -10 Vf = 0.5

-4 -20

-6 -30

-8 -40
1.5 2 2.5 3 2.5 3 3.5 4
Extended length of a bigger crack Extended length of a smaller crack
Crack propagation angle

Crack propagation angle

-2 0

Vf = 0.0724 -10 Vf = 0.0724

-4
-20
-6
-30

-8 -40
1.5 2 2.5 3 2.5 3 3.5 4
Extended length of a bigger crack Extended length of a smaller crack

Fig. 37. Influence of electrical loading on the crack propagation path of two-unequal-collinear edge cracks.

crack propagation growth rate. And it is observed for both bigger loading. Therefore, more specific anisotropic fracture toughness
and smaller edge cracks. Further, this effect is observed more in needs to be considered which depends upon not only h but also on
case of higher volume fraction whereas it is almost independent applied mechanical/electrical and magnetic loadings. This requires
of applied electrical loading for Vf = 0.0724. It may have also the more experimental evidence to be performed on these ceramics.
same reason that a lower value of volume fraction has less
piezoelectric coupling effect and consequently, it is independent 7.2.7. Influence of magnetic loading
of applied electrical loading. The observation of electrical loading The effect of magnetic loading is demonstrated here for differ-
on crack propagation growth rate in MEE ceramic is similar to ent volume fractions on crack propagation paths of two-unequal-
the results given by Sih et al. [18]. collinear edge cracks in MEE ceramic. The factor k = 0, 1, 2, 3 and
It is also observed that even the anisotropic fracture toughness 4, respectively has been varied only for magnetic flux loadings
does not highlight the influence of direction of applied electrical By ¼ kðh33 =c33 Þryy NA1 m1 .
 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98 91

Fig. 38 shows that there is not a significant difference in the loading, discussed in Section 7.2.6, here too, crack propagation
simulated crack propagation paths of both edge cracks under the growth rate is independent of the direction of applied magnetic
influence of different applied magnetic flux loading, and for all load.
the volume fractions Vf = 0.9996, 0.5 and 0.0724. But, it is also no- Consequently, this study also emphasizes the need of more suit-
ticed from numerical values that crack propagation growth rate de- able anisotropic fracture toughness parameter for crack propaga-
creases with increase in magnetic flux loading. Similar to electrical tion criterion in MEE ceramics. The effect of magnetic loading on
Crack propagation angle

Crack propagation angle

-2 0

Vf = 0.9996 -10 Vf = 0.9996

-4 λ=0
λ=1 -20
λ=2
-6
λ=3 -30

-8 -40
1.5 2 2.5 3 2.5 3 3.5 4
Extended length of a bigger crack Extended length of a smaller crack
Crack propagation angle

Crack propagation angle

-2 0

Vf = 0.5 -10 Vf = 0.5

-4
-20
-6
-30

-8 -40
1.5 2 2.5 3 2.5 3 3.5 4
Extended length of a bigger crack Extended length of a smaller crack
Crack propagation angle

Crack propagation angle

0 0

-2 Vf = 0.0724 -10 Vf = 0.0724

-4 -20

-6 -30

-8 -40
1.5 2 2.5 3 2.5 3 3.5 4
Extended length of a bigger crack Extended length of a smaller crack

Fig. 38. Influence of magnetic loading on the crack propagation path of two-unequal-collinear edge cracks.

5 5

Δ a = 2.5he Δ a = 2.5he
0 0

-5 he = 5/99 -5
a = b = 1.5m
Crack propagation angle

Crack propagation angle

rd = 2.0he
-10 -10

-15 -15

-20 -20

-25 -25

-30 -30

-35 -35
1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Extended length of a left crack Extended length of a right crack

Fig. 39. Crack propagation path of two-equal-collinear edge cracks in MEE ceramics.
92 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98

10m

5m
Fig. 40. Simulated crack propagation paths of two-equal-collinear edge cracks in
MEE.
crack propagation growth rate observed is similar to the findings of
Sih et al. [18].
7.2.8. Crack propagation study of two-equal-collinear edge cracks
In this section, a particular case of two equal collinear edge
cracks is simulated by considering a = b=1.5 m. The applied
mechanical loads are rxx = ryy = 5 MPa whereas the other applied
loadings remain the same as described in subsection 7.2. A mesh
with 99  199 elements is considered for the simulation of crack
paths of both left and right edge cracks. Fig. 39 clearly depicts
the symmetrical crack propagation path of left edge crack to the
right edge crack, as expected. A better visual representation of
the crack propagation paths of both the left and right edge cracks
of two-equal-edge cracks in MEE ceramic is shown in Fig. 40. An
excellent agreement of crack propagation paths is observed with
Fig. 42. Anomaly associated with the basis functions at the marked Gauss points.
that of R’ethor’e et al. [42]. It concludes that the behavior of crack
propagation paths of two-equal-collinear edge cracks in MEE
ceramics is similar to the crack propagation paths for two-equal-
collinear edge cracks in isotropic materials. The behavior of
mechanical/electrical/magnetic IFs for the left end edge crack are
shown in Fig. 41 with respect to extended crack length. It is ob-
served that except KII all other IFs increase with respect to increase
in crack length. Intensity factors for right end edge crack are not
significantly different from the IFs for the left end edge crack at
all incremental steps.
8. Anomaly associated with standard eight basis functions for
MEE material
From Eq. (27), modified radii of the basis functions are defined
as

x 107 x 107
15 1

KI K II
0
10
KII
KI

-1

5
-2

0 -3
1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Extended length of a left crack Extended length of a left crack

x 10-4
0.03 8

K IV KV
6
0.02
KIV

KV

0.01
2

0 0
1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Extended length of a left crack Extended length of a left crack

Fig. 41. Intensity factors for left crack of two-equal-collinear edge cracks in MEE ceramic.
 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98 93

Table 6
Roots of the characteristic Eq. (A.9) with positive imaginary part for different MEE ceramics and volume fractions.

Vf 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
!
BaTiO3/CoFe2O4 0.69449i 0.71216i 0.73114i 0.75144i 0.77339i 0.79756i 0.82500i 0.85823i 0.91005i 0.93246i 0.69350i
0.93154i 0.94464i 0.94357i 0.94197i 0.94002i 0.93758i 0.93427i 0.92863i 0.91005i 0.93246i 0.97657i
1.45761i 1.43424i 1.40967i 1.38328i 1.35476i 1.32364i 1.28923i 1.25037i 1.20479i 1.14640i 0.01466 + 1.01095i
1.96434i 1.95111i 1.93678i 1.92079i 1.90228i 1.87976i 1.85040i 1.80813i 1.73712i 1.57890i 0.01466 + 1.01095i
PZT-PIC151/CoFe2O4 0.69449i 0.70453i 0.71585i 0.72851i 0.74281i 0.75915i 0.77811i 0.80058i 0.82807i 0.86368i 0.64152i
0.93154i 1.12382i 1.12990i 1.12855i 1.12455i 1.11871i 1.11103i 1.10102i 1.08761i 1.06818i 0.91557i
1.45761i 1.45556i 1.45523i 1.45484i 1.45424i 1.45329i 1.45176i 1.44917i 1.44373i 1.41407i 1.03478i
1.96434i 1.94686i 1.92608i 1.90256i 1.87542i 1.84314i 1.80300i 1.74939i 1.66884i 1.52789i 1.45747i
PZT-6B/CoFe2O4 0.69449i 0.66941i 0.64707i 0.62664i 0.60775i 0.59018i 0.57375i 0.55835i 0.54389i 0.53033i 0.51760i
0.93154i 1.01272i 1.02085i 1.02299i 1.02331i 1.02279i 1.02175i 1.02035i 1.01861i 1.01654i 0.70402i
1.45761i 1.51419i 1.56905i 1.62205i 1.67251i 1.71826i 1.75353i 1.76512i 1.73027i 1.59141i 1.01453i
1.96434i 1.96209i 1.95943i 1.95637i 1.95315i 1.95074i 1.95227i 1.96494i 1.99556i 2.04226i 2.10146i

1 -1
10 10

(KI(exact) - KI(X-FEM)) / KI(exact)

Topological-Standard(slope~0.5) Topological-Standard
Topological-Four basis(slope~0.5) Topological-Four basis
errW

-2
10

0 -3
10 10
1 2 1 2
10 10 10 10
1/he 1/he

-1 -1
10 10
(KIV(exact) - KIV(X-FEM)) / KIV(exact)

(KV(exact) - KV(X-FEM)) / KV(exact)

Topological-Standard Topological-Standard
Topological-Four basis Topological-Four basis

-2 -2
10 10

-3 -3
10 10
1 2 1 2
10 10 10 10
1/he 1/he

Fig. 43. Convergence of error in energy norm and relative error in IFs with respect to 1/he for PZT6B-CoFe2O4 (Vf = 0.5).

rffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
h    i
  1 4
 2  2   2 2 crack tip element(s). The use of higher order Gauss points for
qm h; arem ;aim
m ¼ pffiffiffi arem þ aim m þ are m sin2h  are
m þ aim m  1 cos 2h
2 blending elements and triangularisation process at crack tip ele-
ments always increase this possibility. Fig. 42 shows one of the
In particular, if the roots of the characteristic Eq. (A.9) are purely an same case at the marked Gauss points for BaTiO3–CoFe2O4 with
imaginary then Vf = 0.
rffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi Authors have tabulated the roots of the characteristic Eq. (A.9)
  1 4  2 h  2 i
qm h; arem ; aim
m ¼ pffiffiffi aimm þ 1  aim m cos 2h: ð34Þ with positive imaginary part for different volume fractions of a
2 MEE material and also for different MEE materials in Table 6. In
 2  2  h 2 i
Now, if aim
m < 0:5 then sign of aim m þ 1  aim
m cos 2h depends particular, it is found that for BaTiO3–CoFe2O4, a volume fraction,
on cos 2h. Vf > 0.9996 and Vf < 0.0724 (up to four decimal places) give one
 2
As weknow p and p, therefore the possi- of the roots as purely imaginary and of aim < 0:5. And if we re-
2 that
h h lies between
2
i m
bility of aim
m þ 1  aim m cos 2h to be negative cannot be ne- place the material constants of BaTiO3 with material constants of
glected. Hence, qm is imaginary. PZT-6B as considered in [43], a more critical case is obtained. In
There may be several cases possible where the position of the this case for all volume fractions one can get at least one of the
 2
crack tip(s) is in such a way that it is perpendicular or nearly per- roots as purely imaginary with aim m < 0:5 as shown in Table 6.
pendicular to the Gauss point(s) of the blending element(s) or the The material constants for PZT-PIC 151 and PZT-6B are taken from
94 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98

[44]. This implies that for all volume fractions, there is always a where
possibility of finding a Gauss point at blending element(s) or crack 8  
tip element where modified radius is imaginary. Therefore, in this >
>  re im  wm ðh;are
m ;am Þ
im
im
> q
< m

h; am ; am cos 2
ifam > 0;
case the standard eight enrichment functions for crack tip cannot
g m ðhÞ ¼   ð37Þ
be taken guaranteed to represent the crack tip solution or to repre- >
>   wm ðh;are
m ;am Þ
im
> qm h; are
: ; aim
sin if aim
m 6 0:
sent the field variables near the crack tip, which are actually real in m m 2

nature. The study on these materials implicates that the standard

eight basis functions depend upon the material constants and vol- It is found that these generalized basis functions work for all the
ume fraction. Hence, it is required to change the modified radius or MEE materials and for all the volume fractions including their
to develop the generalized basis functions which are independent degenerated cases to piezoelectric or piezomagnetic. To achieve this
of volume fraction and material constants. statement authors investigated the convergence in total energy
To remove this anomaly, authors proposed the new modified norm and IFs for the Griffith–Irwin’s crack in an infinite domain by
radius as considering the PZT–6B–CoFe2O4 and degenerated cases of Ba-
  TiO3–CoFe2O4. These have been presented sequentially in the
qm h; arem ; aim
m
rffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
ffi Figs. 43–45. The geometry and loading conditions are the same as
1 4  2  im 2  re  h   
2 2
i

¼ pffiffiffi are m þ am þ am sin2h  are m þ aim m  1 cos 2h ð35Þ in case of Section 5.1. Further, the results obtained using standard
2
eight basis functions have been compared with the results of four
in such a way that qm is always a real and positive value. Hence, the basis functions. It is observed from these figures that rate of conver-
new generalized set of crack-tip enrichment functions are defined gence in total energy norm for all the cases is approximately equal to
as 0.5. Further, it is noticed that four basis functions have lower error in
k
h r; h; are im
 pffiffiffi pffiffiffi pffiffiffi pffiffiffi pffiffiffi pffiffiffi pffiffiffi pffiffiffi
the total energy norm than eight basis functions. But the results of
k ; ak ¼ r g 1 ðhÞ; r g 2 ðhÞ; r g 3 ðhÞ; r g 4 ðhÞ; r g 5 ðhÞ; r g 6 ðhÞ; r g 7 ðhÞ; r g 8 ðhÞ
IFs show that eight basis functions have better approximation to
ð36Þ
the exact results than the four basis functions. A similar behavior

1 -1 -1
10 10 10

Topological-Standard(slope~0.5) Topological-Standard Topological-Standard

Topological-Four basis(slope~0.5) Topological-Four basis Topological-Four basis

(KV(exact) - KV(X-FEM)) / KV(exact)

(KI(exact) - KI(X-FEM)) / KI(exact)
errW

-2 -2
10 10

0 -3 -3
10 10 10
1 2 1 2 1 2
10 10 10 10 10 10
1/he 1/he 1/he

Fig. 44. Convergence of error in energy norm and relative error in IFs with respect to 1/he for BaTiO3–CoFe2O4 (Vf = 0).

1 -1 -1
10 10 10

Topological-Standard(slope~0.5) Topological-Standard Topological-Standard

(KIV(exact) - KIV(X-FEM)) / KIV(exact)

Topological-Four basis(slope~0.5) Topological-Four basis Topological-Four basis

(KI(exact) - KI(X-FEM)) / KI(exact)
errW

-2 -2
10 10

0 -3 -3
10 10 10
1 2 1 2 1 2
10 10 10 10 10 10
1/he 1/he 1/he

Fig. 45. Convergence of error in energy norm and relative error in IFs with respect to 1/he for BaTiO3–CoFe2O4 (Vf = 1).
 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98 95

of error in total energy norm convergence and IFs is observed in ceramics. Therefore, a more suitable fracture toughness parameter
subsections 5.1 and 5.2. Hence, one could consider the eight basis is required which depends not only on h but also on the applied
functions based on the redefined modified radius as a generalized mechanical/electric/magnetic loadings. And for that more experi-
basis functions, which are applicable to all the MEE ceramics or their mental work on these ceramics is needed to be performed.
degenerated cases. Apart from the study on two-unequal-collinear cracks, an
interesting point regarding the application of standard eight basis
functions defined for these ceramics is also obtained. It is observed
9. Conclusions that the modified radius defined for these basis functions are not
applicable to all the MEE ceramics and for all the volume fractions.
From the last decade most of the work on two-collinear-cracks Therefore, authors alter the modified radius and redefined the
has been done on an infinite domain using analytic techniques. As basis functions which can handle the crack problems of all the
per the authors knowledge, this is the first attempt, to study the MEE ceramics and for all the volume fractions including their
quasi-static stationary and propagating two-unequal-collinear degenerated cases.
cracks in a finite specimen of 2-D MEE ceramic using X-FEM.
Two-collinear-unequal cracks in an infinite domain problem are Acknowledgement
simulated, analyzed and also validated. A square specimen having
width greater than or equal to five times of the length of a bigger The authors are grateful to Prof. R.D. Bhargava (Senior Professor
crack and the offset distances greater than or equal to 1.38 times and Head, (retd.), Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai,
than the length of a bigger crack, may be considered as an infinite India) for the encouragement throughout the course of this work.
domain in the present set up. An excellent agreement of the behav-
iors is observed with an infinite domain under different parametric Appendix A
studies namely inter-crack space, crack length and the applied
mechanical/electrical/magnetic loads for quasi-static problem. Let (x, y) be the principal material and crack coordinates system
Total energy release rate strongly depends on the cracks dimen- and y be the poling direction as shown in Fig. 2.
sions and the distance between them. The effect of cracks on each With respect to the coordinate system (x, y) and under the
other reduces when the distance between the cracks is greater plane strain conditions (eyy = eyx = exy = Ey = Hy = 0), the constitutive
than or equal to the length of the bigger crack. It is concluded from relations for magnetoelectroelastic materials can be expressed as:
the investigation for TERR for asymmetric cracks orientation case 8 2 38
that TERR is either more (for the crack near to the edge of the spec- >
>
exx 9>
>
a11 a12 0 0 b21 0 d21 > rxx >
>
9
>
>
> >
> 6 7>
> >
>
imen) or approximately same at tips of cracks to the case of sym- >
> eyy > > 6 a12 a22 0 0 b22 0 d22 7>
> ryy >
>
>
> >
> 6 >
7> >
>
metric orientation for a fixed value of inter-crack space. The >
> >
> 6 7>
> >
>
>
> 2 e >
> 6 7>
> r >
>
concept of TERR cannot be taken as a fracture parameter as the >
>
<
xy > 6 0
>
=
0 a33 b13 0 d13 0 7>>
<
xy >
>
=
6 7
TERR is independent of the direction of the applied electrical and Ex ¼6
6 0 0 b13 d11 0 D11 7
0 7 Dx
>
> >
> 6 7>
> >
>
magnetic loads. However, MERR shows the shielding and unshield- >
> >
> >
> Dy >>
>
> E > 6 b21 b22 0 0 d22 0 D22 7
7> >
ing effect on the crack growth for applied negative and positive > y >
> > 6
> 6
>
>
7>
>
>
>
>
> >
> 6 >
> >
>
electrical/magnetic loads, respectively. The case of one edge and > H
> x >
>
>
> 4 0 0 d13 D11 0 f11 0 7 >
> x >
5> B >
>
another internal crack in a 2-D finite specimen of MEE specimen
>
: >
; >
: >
;
Hy d21 d22 0 0 D22 0 f22 By
is derived as a special case from two-unequal-collinear cracks
problem discussed. ðA:1Þ
Crack propagation of two-unequal-collinear edge cracks in MEE where coefficients aij, bij, dij, dij, Dij and fij are reduced material con-
material is successfully attempted here using X-FEM and modified stants defined in Rojas-Dı´az [30].
hoop stress intensity factor criterion with anisotropic fracture In the above Eq. (A.1), fexx eyy 2exy gT ; fEx Ey gT and fHx Hy gT de-
toughness parameter defined for polarized ceramics. The different note respectively the strain, electric field and magnetic field vec-
parametric studies conclude that propagation path for both the tors w.r.t. (x, y) system; frxx ryy rxy gT ; fDx Dy gT and fBx By gT
cracks are mesh insensitive, independent of domain radius but de- denote respectively the stress, electric displacement and magnetic
pend upon the crack growth increment. Due to asymmetry of the induction vectors w.r.t (x, y).
problem, crack propagation paths for bigger and smaller cracks Based on Lekhnitskii’s formalism, three complex potential func-
are also asymmetric to each other whereas paths are obtained per- tions v(x, y), #(x, y) and w(x, y) are introduced as:
fectly symmetric in case of two-equal-collinear edge cracks. The
difference in the crack propagation paths for different volume frac- @ 2 vðx; yÞ @ 2 vðx; yÞ @ 2 vðx; yÞ
rxx ¼ ; ryy ¼ ; rxy ¼  ;
tions of MEE ceramic is not significant here but still the behavior of @y2 @x2 @x@y
crack propagation paths agrees with Sih et al. [18,20] that an in- @#ðx; yÞ @#ðx; yÞ @wðx; yÞ @wðx; yÞ
Dx ¼ ; Dy ¼  ; Bx ¼ ; By ¼  :
crease in volume fraction decreases the crack growth rate. It is also @y @x @y @x
concluded that the increase in rxx/ryy ratio increases the crack ðA:2Þ
growth rate for a bigger edge crack. The same behavior is observed
for a smaller crack but up to a certain crack length, and it shows the The above defined relations in Eq. (A.2) in potential functions satisfy
reverse behavior after that. Electric and magnetic flux loadings al- the equilibrium equations
ways reduce the crack propagation growth rate. Although, the ef- @ rxx @ rxy @ rxy @ ryy @Dx @Dy @Bx @By
fect of magnetic loading is not significant but electrical loading þ ¼ 0; þ ¼ 0; þ ¼ 0; þ ¼ 0:
@x @y @x @y @x @y @x @y
has a significant effect. The above effect of loadings is also in agree-
ðA:3Þ
ment of the strain energy density function criterion for crack prop-
agation in MEE materials proposed by Sih et al. [18]. But the crack By substituting Eq. (A.2) into Eq. (A.1) and invoking the following
propagation paths obtained from the modified hoop stress inten- strain and electric field compatibility equations:
sity factor criterion with anisotropic fracture toughness parameter
@ 2 exx @ 2 eyy @ 2 exy @Ex @Ey @Hx @Hy
do not show the effect of electric/magnetic loading direction. This þ 2 ¼ 0;  ¼ 0;  ¼ 0: ðA:4Þ
@y 2 @x 2 @x@y @x @y @x @y
could not be validated with the experimental findings on these
96 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98

The three coupled differential equations in v(x, y), #(x, y) and w(x, y) Substituting Eqs. (A.11) and (A.12) into Eq. (A.2) and introducing
can be obtained as: new complex potential functions
L4 vðx; yÞ  L3 #ðx; yÞ  M 3 wðx; yÞ ¼ 0; @ vk ðzk Þ @nk ðzk Þ
L3 vðx; yÞ  L2 #ðx; yÞ þ M 2 wðx; yÞ ¼ 0; ðA:5Þ
nk ðzk Þ ¼ and 1k ðzk Þ ¼ for k ¼ 1; 2; 3; 4 ðA:14Þ
@zk @zk
M 3 vðx; yÞ  M 2 #ðx; yÞ þ N2 wðx; yÞ ¼ 0: the stress, electric displacement and magnetic field components can
where be expressed in terms of the new complex potential functions as:
8 9 8 9
@2 @2 @2 @2 @2 @2
N 2 ¼ f22 2 þ f11 2 ; M2 ¼ D22 2 þ D11 2 ; L2 ¼ d22 2 þ d11 2 < rxx >
> = l2k >
4 <
P
>=  
Dx P
4

k k lk

@x @y @x @y @x @y ryy ¼ 2Re 1 1k ðzk Þ; ¼ 2Re 1k ðzk Þ;
>
: >
; k¼1>
: >
; Dy k¼1 kk
@3 @3 @3 @3
r
 xy   lk
L3 ¼ ðb13 þ b21 Þ þ b22 3 ; M 3 ¼ ðd13 þ d21 Þ 2 þ d22 3 ; Bx P
4
gk lk
@y2 @x @x @y @x @x
B
¼ 2Re
g
1k ðzk Þ: ðA:15Þ
y k¼1 k
@4 @4 @4
L4 ¼ a11 4 þ ð2a12 þ a33 Þ 2 2 þ a22 4 : Using the Eq. (A.15) into Eq. (A.1) and applying the gradient rela-
@y @y @x @x
tions, the general solution for displacement, electric and magnetic
ðA:6Þ potential can be written as:
Eliminating #(x, y) and w(x, y) in Eq. (6), the governing equations of 8 9 8 9 8  9
> ux > > Pk > > h y þ u >
>
> > > >
> >
> >
> >
>
plane piezoelectricity are reduced to the following eighth-order dif- < uy = P
4 < Q k =lk = < h x þ v =

ferential equation: ¼ 2Re nk ðzk Þ þ ðA:16Þ
h   i >
>/> > k¼1>
> Sk > > >
> / > >
>
: > ; >
: >
; >
: >
;
L4 L2 N2  M 22 þ L3 ðL3 P2  2M 3 M 2 Þ þ L2 M23 vðx; yÞ ¼ 0: ðA:7Þ u Uk u
Eq. (A.7) can be written symbolically as (in Sosa [45]): where
F 1 F 2 F 3 F 4 F 5 F 6 F 7 F 8 vðx; yÞ ¼ 0 ðA:8Þ Pk ¼ a11 l2k þ a12  b21 kk  d21 gk ;
where F k ¼  l @
@y
and lks(k = 1, 2, . . . , 6) are the roots of the
@
k @x Q k ¼ a12 l2k þ a22  b22 kk  d22 gk ;
characteristic equation ðA:17Þ
Sk ¼ b13 lk þ d11 lk kk þ D11 lk gk ;
½a11 l4 þ ð2a12 þ a33 Þl2 þ a22 ½ðD11 l2 þ D22 Þ2 U k ¼ d13 lk þ D11 lk kk þ f11 lk gk :
 ðd11 l2 þ d22 Þðf11 l2 þ f22 Þ  ½ðb21 þ b13 Þl2 þ b22 2 ðf11 l2 þ f22 Þ
Here h⁄, u⁄, v⁄, /⁄ and u⁄ represent the rigid body motion, a refer-
 ½ðd21 þ d13 Þl2 þ d22 2 ðd11 l2 þ d22 Þ ence electric and magnetic potential and they are set to be zero.
þ 2½ðb21 þ b13 Þl2 þ b22 ½ðd21 þ d13 Þl2 þ d22 ðD11 l2 þ D22 Þ ¼ 0 On the basis of Griffith’s crack solution in classical elasticity, the
ðA:9Þ complex potential function 1k(zk) must have the following form:
Az
k k
In general, the roots of the Eq. (A.9) are complex with four conjugate 1k ðzk Þ ¼ qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi þ Bk ; ðk ¼ 1; 2; 3; 4Þ ðA:18Þ
pairs, i.e. z2k  a2
l1 ¼ a1 þ ib1 ; l2 ¼ a2 þ ib2 ; l3 ¼ a3 þ ib3 ; l4 ¼ a4 þ ib4 ; where Ak ¼ Are
im re im
k þ iAk ; Bk ¼ Bk þ iBk and a is the half crack length.
l5 ¼ l1 ; l6 ¼ l2 ; l7 ¼ l3 ; l8 ¼ l4 The above defined complex potential function satisfied the
ðA:10Þ boundary conditions at the crack flanks and the conditions of con-
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffi stant stresses and constant electric displacements at infinity. It also
where i ¼ 1; ak s and bk sðk ¼ 1; 2; 3; 4Þ are all real numbers. satisfies the equilibrium equations.
Eq. (A.8) can be solved by means of complex variables, and the Thus, one can know about the complete solution of the Griffith’s
general solution for the complex potential function v(x, y) as: crack problem using Eqs. (A.15)–(A.18). And it required only
  16
P
4 arbitrary real constants, i.e. Are im re im
k ; Ak ; Bk ; Bk for k ¼ 1; 2; 3; 4 eval-
vðx; yÞ ¼ 2Re vk ðzk Þ ðA:11Þ uated from the boundary conditions at the crack surfaces and at
k¼1
infinity, and exclusion of the rigid body rotations.
where vk is an arbitrary function of complex variable zk = x + lky. Applying the boundary conditions at the crack surfaces.
From Eqs. (A.5) and (A.11), the general solution for the complex
potential function #(x, y) and w(x, y) can be expressed as: 1. rxy = 0 for (jxj < a, y = 0), Eqs. (A.15)–(A.18) results into
2 0 13
P
4 @ vk ðzk Þ P4 @ v ðzk Þ
#ðx; yÞ ¼ 2Re kk ; wðx; yÞ ¼ 2Re gk k ðA:12Þ 6P 4
B Ak ðx þ lk yÞ C7
k¼1 @zk k¼1 @zk  2Re4 lk @qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi ffi þ Bk A5 ¼ 0
2
k¼1 ðx þ lk yÞ  a 2
where
2x h    
re re im re re im
l3 ðlk Þ m3 ðlk Þ ) pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi lim 1 A1 þ l 1 A1 þ lim 2 A2 þ l 2 A2
kk ¼ ;g ¼ ; 2 2
l1 ðlk Þ k l1 ðlk Þ a x   i
re re im re re im
    2 þ lim3 A3 þ l3 A3 þ lim4 A4 þ l4 A4
l1 ðlk Þ ¼ d22 þ d11 l2k f22 þ f11 l2k  D22 þ D11 l2k ; m3 ðlk Þ h   

  re im im re im im
l3 ðlk Þ ¼ ðd13 þ d21 Þl2k þ d22 D22 þ D11 l2k  2 lre 1 B1  l1 B1 þ lre 2 B2  l2 B2

     i
 ðb13 þ b21 Þl2k þ b22 f22 þ f11 l2k þ lre re im im
þ lre re im im

  3 B3  l3 B3 4 B4  l4 B4 ¼0
¼ ðb13 þ b21 Þl2k þ b22 D22 þ D11 l2k    
re re im re re im

  ) lim 1 A1 þ l1 A1 þ lim2 A2 þ l2 A2
 ðd13 þ d21 Þl2k þ d22 f22 þ f11 l2k :    
re re im re re im
ðA:13Þ þ lim3 A3 þ l 3 A3 þ lim 4 A4 þ l 4 A4 ¼0 ðA:19Þ
 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98 97

and 1. ryy ¼ r1
yy ; jx þ iyj ! 1
       3 n o
P  re   im
lre1 Bre1  lim im
1 B1 þ lre re im im
2 B2  l2 B2 þ lre re im im
3 B3  l3 B3 ) 2Re Ak þ Bre im
k þ i Ak þ Bk ¼ r1
yy
  k¼1
lre4 Bre4  lim im  re 
þ 4 B4 ¼0 ðA:20Þ ) 2 Are re re 1
1 þ A2 þ A3 þ A4 ¼ ryy ðA:27Þ
2. ryy = 0 for (jxj < a, y = 0), Eqs. (A.15)–(A.18) results into
2 0 13  
2. rxy ¼ 0; jx þ iyj ! 1 ) lre1 Are1 þ Bre1
6P4
B Ak ðx þ lk yÞ C7  re   re 
2Re4 @qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
ffi þ Bk A5 ¼ 0 re re
 lre re
2 A2 þ B2  l3 A3 þ B3
k¼1 ðx þ lk yÞ2  a2
 re     
 
2x  lre re im
4 A4 þ B4 þ l1 Aim
1 þ B1
im
þ lim Aim im
2 þ B2
) pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi Aim1 þ Aim2 þ Aim 3 þ Aim
4
2
a2  x2    
 
þ 2 Bre re re
1 þ B2 þ B3 þ B4
re
þ lim
3 Aim im
3 þ B3 þ lim
4 Aim im
4 þ B4 ¼0 ðA:28Þ
¼0 ) Aim
1 þ Aim
2 þ Aim
3 þ Aim
4 ¼0 ðA:21Þ
n   2 o 
and 3.
rxx ¼ 0; jx þ iyj ! 1 ) lre1 2  lim
1 Are re
1 þ B1
Bre
1 þ Bre
2 þ Bre
3 þ Bre
4 ¼0 ðA:22Þ n   2 o 
3. Dy = 0 for (jxj < a, y = 0), Eqs. (A.15)–(A.18) results into
þ lre2 2  lim
2 Are re
2 þ B2

2 0 13 n   2 o 
þ lre3 2  lim Are re
3 þ B3
B Ak ðx þ lk yÞ
3
6P 4
C7
 2Re4 kk @qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi ffi þ B k A5 ¼ 0 n
2   2 o  h  
k¼1 ðx þ lk yÞ  a 2
þ lre4 2  lim
4 Are re re im
4 þ B4  2 l1 l1 Aim im
1 þ B1

2x h       
im re im im re im
) pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi k1 Are 1 þ k 1 A1 þ k2 Are 2 þ k 2 A2 þ lre im
Aim im
þ lre im
Aim im
2 2 2 l2 2 þ B2 3 l3 3 þ B3
a x   i
im re im im re im  i
þ k3 Are 3 þ k 3 A3 þ k4 Are 4 þ k 4 A4 þlre im
4 l4 Aim im
4 þ B4 ¼0 ðA:29Þ
h   
re im im re im im
 2 k1 Bre 1  k1 B1 þ k2 Bre 2  k2 B2
   i
re
þ k3 Bre
im im re
þ k4 Bre
im im  re  re  re  re 
3  k3 B3 4  k4 B4 ¼0 re re
4. Dy ¼ D1
y ; jx þ iyj ! 1 ) 2 k1 A1 þ B1 þ k2 A2 þ B2
   
im re re im
) k1 A1 þ k1 A1 þ k2 A2 þ k2 A2
im re re im re   re  re 
þk3 Are re
3 þ B3 þ k4 A4 þ B4
re

    h      
im re im im re im
þ k3 Are 3 þ k3 A3 þ k4 Are 4 þ k 4 A4 ¼0 ðA:23Þ im
þ 2 k1 Aim im im
þ k2 Aim im im
þ k3 Aim im
1 þ B1 2 þ B2 3 þ B3
 i
and im
þk4 Aim 4 þ B4
im
¼ D1 y ðA:30Þ
     
re im im re im im re im im
k1 Bre
1  k1 B1 þ k2 Bre 2  k2 B2 þ k3 Bre
3  k3 B3
  h 
re im im 
þ k4 Bre 4  k4 B4 ¼0 ðA:24Þ 5. Dx ¼ 0; jx þ iyj ! 1 ) lre1 kre1  lim im
Are re
1 k1 1 þ B1

4. By = 0 for (jxj < a, y = 0), Eqs. (A.15)–(A.18) results into   

2 0 13 þ lre2 kre2  lim im
2 k2 Are re
2 þ B2

6P 4
B Ak ðx þ lk yÞ C7   
 2Re4 gk @qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi þ Bk A5 ¼ 0 þ lre3 kre3  lim im
3 k3 Are re
3 þ B3
k¼1 ðx þ lk yÞ2  a2
  i
2x h    re im im
þ lre
4 k4  l4 k4 Are re
4 þ B4
) pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi gim 1 Are
1 þ gre
1 Aim
1 þ gim 2 Are
2 þ gre
2 Aim
2
2 2
a x   i h  
þ gim re
gre3 Aim þ gim re re im  lre1 kim im re
1 þ l1 k 1 Aim im
1 þ B1
3 A 3 þ 3 4 A4 þ g4 A4
h      
re im im re im im
 2 gre 1 B1  g1 B1 þ gre 2 B2  g2 B2 þ lre2 kim im re
2 þ l2 k 2 Aim im
2 þ B2
   i
þ gre re im im
þ gre re im im   
3 B3  g3 B3 4 B4  g4 B4 ¼0
      þ lre3 kim im re
3 þ l3 k 3 Aim im
3 þ B3
im re re im im re re im re re im
) g1 A1 þ g1 A1 þ g2 A2 þ g2 A2 þ gim 3 A3 þ g3 A3   i
  þ lre
im im re
Aim im
re re im 4 k4 þ l4 k4 4 þ B4 ¼0 ðA:31Þ
þ gim 4 A4 þ g4 A4 ¼0 ðA:25Þ

and
 re  re re
  re re

6. By ¼ B1y ; jx þ iyj ! 1 ) 2 g1 A1 þ B1 þ g2 A2 þ B2
re

       re   re 
gre1 Bre1  gim im
1 B1 þ gre re im im
2 B2  g2 B2 þ gre re im im
3 B3  g3 B3 þgre re re
3 A3 þ B3 þ g4 A4 þ B4
re

  h      
re im im
þ gre
4 B4  g4 B4 ¼0 ðA:26Þ þ 2 gim1 Aim
1 þ B1
im
þ gim2 Aim
2 þ B2
im
þ gim3 Aim3 þ B3
im

 i
Applying the boundary conditions at infinity and using Eqs. (A.15)– þgim Aim im
¼ B1
4 4 þ B4 y ðA:32Þ
(A.18), we get
98 R.R. Bhargava, K. Sharma / Computational Materials Science 60 (2012) 75–98

  re 
7. Bx ¼ 0; jx þ iyj ! 1 ) lre re im im
A1 þ Bre [3] Z.-G. Zhou, L.-Z. Wu, B. Wang, Eur. J. Mech. A-Solid. 24 (2005) 253–262.
1 g1  l1 g1 1 [4] Z.-G. Zhou, P.-W. Zhang, L.-Z. Wu, Philos. Mag. 90 (2010) 1743–1769.
 re re   
þ l2 g2  lim 2 g2
im
Are
2 þ B2
re [5] B.-L. Wang, H.Y. -Zhang, J.-C. Han, Arch. Appl. Mech. 77 (2007) 541–558.
 re re   re  [6] B.M. Singh, J. Rokne, R.S. Dhaliwal, Eur. J. Mech. A-Solid. 28 (2009) 599–
þ l3 g3  lim 3 g3
im
A3 þ Bre 3 609.
 re re    [7] X.-C. Zhong, Appl. Math. Model. 35 (2011) 2930–2944.
þ l4 g4  lim 4 g4
im
Are
4 þ B4
re
[8] R. Rojas-Diaz, F.G. -Sanchez, A. Saez, Ch. Zhang, Int. J. Fract. 157 (2009) 119–
h   130.
im im re
 lre 1 k1 þ l1 k1 Aim
1 þ B1
im
[9] Y.-D. Li, K.Y. Lee, J.-W. Pan, Collinear unequal crack series in
   magnetoelectroelastic materials: anti-plane case, J. Appl. Math. Mech.
im im re
þ lre 2 k 2 þ l2 k 2 Aim2 þ B2
im
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/zamm.201000053/pdf.
   [10] Y.-D. Li, K.Y. Lee, Eng. Fract. Mech. 77 (2010) 2772–2790.
im im re
þ lre 3 k 3 þ l3 k 3 Aim3 þ B3
im [11] F.G. -Sanchez, R. Rojas-Diaz, A. Saez, Ch. Zhang, Theor. Appl. Fract. Mech. 47
(2007) 192–204.
  im i
[12] B.-L. Wang, Y.-W. Mai, Comput. Meth. Appl. Mech. Engg. 196 (2007) 2044–
þ lre im im re
4 g4 þ l4 g4 A4 þ Bim 4 ¼0 ðA:33Þ 2054.
[13] Y. Li, W. Feng, Z. Xu, Comput. Meth. Appl. Mech. Engg. 198 (2009) 2347–2359.
[14] S.B. Park, C.T. Sun, Int. J. Fract. 70 (1995) 203–216.
[15] S. Kumar, R.N. Singh, Acta Mater. 44 (1996) 173–200.
8. Now, to remove the rigid rotation, the following condition is [16] S. Kumar, R.N. Singh, Acta Mater. 45 (1997) 859–868.
imposed as stated in Sosa [45]: [17] X.-L. Xu, R.K.N.D. Rajapakse, Acta Mater. 48 (2000) 1865–1882.
[18] Z.F. Song, G.C. Sih, Theor. Appl. Fract. Mech. 39 (2003) 189–207.
[19] G.C. Sih, R. Jones, Z.F. Song, Theor. Appl. Frac. Mech. 40 (2003) 161–186.
uy;x  ux;y ¼ 0; jx þ iyj ! 1 [20] G.C. Sih, H.Y. Yu, Compos. Struct. 68 (2005) 1–11.
     
) X 1 Are þ Bre þ X 2 Are þ Bre þ X 3 Are þ Bre [21] N. Moës, J. Dolbow, T. Belytschko, Int. J. Numer. Meth. Eng. 46 (1999) 131–
 1 re 1 re   2re 2re   3re 3re  150.
þ X 4 A4 þ B4  Y 1 A1 þ B1  Y 2 A2 þ B2 [22] T. Belytschko, T. Black, Int. J. Numer. Meth. Eng. 45 (1999) 601–620.
   re 
 Y 3 Are re re
3 þ B3  Y 4 A4 þ B4 ¼ 0 ðA:34Þ [23] G. Ventura, E. Budyn, T. Belytschko, Int. J. Numer. Meth. Eng. 58 (2003) 1571–
1592.
[24] R. Huang, N. Sukumar, J.-H. Prévost, Int. J. Solids Struct. 40 (2003) 7539–
where 7552.
2  3 [25] E. Be’chet, H. Minnebo, N. Moës, B. Bugardt, Int. J. Numer. Meth. Eng. 64 (2005)
Q re re im im
k lk þ Q k lk
  1033–1056.
X k ¼ 4  2  2  P k lk  Pk lk 5 and Y k
re re im im
[26] P. Laborde, J. Pommier, Y. Renard, M. Salaün, Int. J. Numer. Meth. Eng. 64
lrek þ lim k (2005) 354–381.
2 im re im
 3 [27] A. Yazid, N. Abdelkader, H. Abdelmadjid, Appl. Math. Model. 33 (2009) 4269–
Q k lk  Q k lk
re   4282.
¼ 4  2  2  P k lk þ P k lk 5 ; k
re im im re [28] T. Belytschko, R. Gracie, G. Ventura, Model. Simul. Mater. Sc. 17 (2009) 043001.
lrek þ lim [29] R. Rojas-Dı´az, N. Sukumar, A. Saez, F.G. Sanchez, Crack analysis in
k magnetoelectroelastic media using the extended finite element method, in:
¼ 1; 2; 3; 4: ðA:35Þ International Conference on Extended Finite Element Methods – Recent
Developments and Applications, 2009.
[30] R. Rojas-Dı´az, N.Sukumar, A. Sáez, F. Garcı́a-Sánchez, Fracture in
Now, using Eqs. (A.19)–(A.35),
 we can evaluate all the 16  arbi- magnetoelectroelastic materials using the extended finite element method,
trary real constants, i.e. Are im re im
k ; Ak ; Bk ; Bk for k ¼ 1; 2; 3; 4 and Int. J. Numer. Meth. Eng. (2011) doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nme.3219.
hence the field variables near the tip of the crack. [31] E. Be’chet, M. Scherzer, M. Kuna, Int. J. Numer. Meth. Eng. 77 (2009) 1535–
Further, applying the classical definition of intensity factor and 1565.
[32] M.A. Gregory, C.T. Herakovich, J. Compos. Mater 20 (1986) 67–85.
Eqs. (A.19)–(A.35), the IFs are given as [33] M. Doblare, F. Espiga, M. Alcantud, Eng. Fract Mech 37 (1990) 953–967.
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffi [34] L. Janski, P. Steinhorst, M. Kuna, IUTAM (2009) 163–173.
KI ¼ lim 2pr ryy ðx ¼ a þ r; y ¼ 0Þ ¼ r1yy pa ðA:36Þ [35] R. Rojas-Dı´az, M. Denda, F. Garcı́a-Sánchez, A. Sáez, Eur. J. Mech. A-Solid. 31
r!0
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffi (2012) 152–162.
KIV ¼ lim 2prDy ðx ¼ a þ r; y ¼ 0Þ ¼ D1 y pa ðA:37Þ [36] M. Denda, Key Eng. Mater. 383 (2008) 67–84.
r!0 [37] B.N. Rao, M. Kuna, Int. J. Fract. 153 (2008) 15–37.
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi p ffiffiffiffiffiffi
KV ¼ lim 2prBy ðx ¼ a þ r; y ¼ 0Þ ¼ B1 y pa ðA:38Þ [38] S. Osher, J.A. Sethian, J. Comput. Phys. 79 (1988) 12–49.
r!0 [39] M. Stolarska, D.L. Chopp, N. Moës, T. Belytschko, Int. J. Numer. Meth. Eng. 51
(2001) 943–960.
This implies that IFs for Griffith’s crack problem are indepen- [40] W.-Y. Tian, U. Gabeert, Eur. J. Mech. A-Solid. 23 (2004) 599–614.
dent of the material constants. [41] G.G. Pisarenko, V.M. Chusko, S.P. Kovalev, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 68 (1985) 259–
265.
[42] J. R’ethor’e, S. Roux, F. Hild, Comptes Rendus Mecanique 338 (2010) 121–
References 126.
[43] C.-C. Ma, J.-M. Lee, Int. J. Solids Struct. 46 (2009) 4208–4220.
[1] C.-F. Gao, H. Kessler, H. Balke, Int. J. Eng. Sci. 41 (2003) 983–994. [44] Z.-C. Ou, Y.-H. Chen, Int. J. Fract. 130 (2004) 427–454.
[2] Z.-G. Zhou, B. Wang, Y.-G. Sun, Int. J. Eng. Sci. 42 (2004) 1155–1167. [45] H. Sosa, Int. J. Solids Struct. 28 (1991) 491–505.