Anti-plane mechanical and in-plane electrical fields for a finite electrode/punch on a finite piezoelectric layer

The problems of a surface electrode and a rigid punch on a finite piezoelectric layer are considered in this paper. The resultant force and the accumulated electric charge on the electrode/punch are prescribed. Closed‐form solutions for the electromechanical fields at the electrode/punch tip are obtained and are expressed in terms of the applied strain and electric field intensity factors. For infinite layer thickness, the strain and electric field intensity factors are obtained in closed‐form. For finite layer thickness, the strain and electric field intensity factors are obtained numerically by the singular integral equation technique. The effect of layer thickness on the electrode/punch tip fields is discussed. It is found that the field intensities at the electrode/punch tip can be reduced considerably by decreasing layer thickness. In addition to the single electrode/punch problem, this paper also provides a solution technique for two collinear surface electrodes/punches on a finite piezoelectric layer. The effect of the relative distance between the two electrodes/punches on the electromechanical fields in the piezoelectric layer is also discussed.