Modified strip saturated models for two equal collinear cracks with coalesced zones in piezoelectric media

Two equal collinear cracks with coalesced interior electric saturation zones are analytically studied for two-dimensional (2D) arbitrary polarized semipermeable piezo- electric media based on a modified strip saturated model. The strip saturated model is modified here by varying the strip saturated constant electric displacement condition to the polynomially varying electric displacement conditions. Based on the linear, quadratic, and cubic electric displacement conditions on the inner and outer saturated zones, dif- ferent modified strip saturated models are proposed and studied for two equal collinear cracks. With the Stroh formalism and the complex variable technique, these fracture problems are reduced into different types of non-homogeneous Riemann Hilbert problems in unknown generalized complex potential functions. These mathematical problems are then solved with the Riemann-Hilbert approach to obtain the stress and electric displace- ment components at any point of the domain. The explicit expressions for the outer saturated zone length, the crack opening potential (COP), the crack opening displace- ment (COD), and the local intensity factors (LIFs) are derived. A numerical study is presented for the modified strip saturated model in 2D arbitrary polarized semiperme- able PZT-4 material. The obtained results are compared with those of the strip saturated model, and the effects of the polynomially varying saturation condition on the saturated zones and the applied electrical loadings are presented.