This article focuses on micromechanics-based models that explicitly express the elastic and conductive properties of plasma-sprayed ceramic coatings in terms of relevant microstructural parameters. These parameters reflect, in an integral way, the density and the orientation distribution of microcracks; they apply to strongly oblate pores as well. On the other hand, the porosity parameter usually plays a secondary role. Partial contacts between crack faces—a factor of major importance—are reflected via appropriate reduction of crack densities. The effect of various “irregularities” of crack shapes is discussed. Case studies of YSZ coatings demonstrate how the micromechanics-based modeling can be used and directly interfaced with 2-D image data.

For an infinite three-dimensional transversely isotropic piezoelectric material, Green's functions (which give the fuli set of electromechanical fields due to a point electric charge and an arbitrarily oriented point force) are derived in elementary functions in a simple way, using methods of the potential theory. For a semi-infinite transversely isotropic piezoelectric material. Green's functions are also derived, but in a limited way: a point force and a point electric charge are assumed to be applied at the boundary of the half-space. The latter solutions constitute a generalization of Boussinesqs and Cerruti's problems of elasticity for piezoelectric materials. The strength of the piezoeffect (the difference from the purely elastic case) is estimated for the example of the piezoceramics PZT-6B.