Fracture Behavior of Cyclically Loaded PZT

The fracture behavior of PZT specimens driven at their resonant frequency by the application of an ac voltage was investigated and compared with fracture behavior of monotonically loaded PZT. Microcracking was observed in the cyclically loaded specimens; above 150°C, the micro-cracks were dispersed in small clusters, while at T≤ 86°C, microcracks were generated in a densely populated region near the failure site (indentation). Macrocrack growth also demonstrated a temperature dependence, with crack growth occurring at T > 150°C but not at T≤ 86°C.