Mechanical and electrical responses of piezoelectric solids to conical indentation

Mechanical and electrical responses of piezoelectric materials subjected to shallow cone indentation were evaluated. Theoretical analysis based on normal indentation of a transversely isotropic, piezoelectric solid by a conducting steel cone with zero potential bias was compared to experimental results on lead zirconate (PZT-4) and barium titanate ceramics. The effect of the cone angle on the linear elastic assumptions and the depoling of the material below the indenter tip was investigated. The load-displacement and the time-current relations were proven to be specific to the piezoelectric properties of the material. Therefore, instrumented cone indentation can be a viable test in assessing the mechanical and electrical responses of piezoelectric materials in small volumes.