Damage characteristics of lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric ceramic during cyclic loading

The effects of the damage characteristics on the material properties of a piezoelectric ceramic are examined during cyclic loading. The material being examined is a lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric ceramic (PZT). The electrical properties, such as the electromechanical coupling coefficient (k₃₃), are changed during cyclic loading. The k₃₃ coefficient decreases rapidly to a low level as the sample is loaded cyclically with a high applied stress, while the k₃₃ value decreases slowly or does not change when loaded with a low applied stress. Such a change of material degradation is influenced by the severity of the material damage in the PZT ceramic. The material damage in the PZT occurs, and this occurrence is related to a lightning-like phenomenon (a bright flash with a click). Details of the damage characteristics in PZT ceramic are discussed in the present work.