Crack problem for a functionally graded layer on an elastic foundation

In this paper internal and edge crack problems for an FGM layer attached to an elastic foundation are considered. This model can be used to simulate circumferential crack problem for a thin walled cylinder. It is assumed that the mechanical properties of the layer are varying in thickness direction. Crack is assumed to be perpendicular to the surfaces. For this geometry stress intensity factors are calculated for a number of different crack surface tractions. By using the calculated stress intensity factors and the principle of superposition it is possible to obtain solutions for physically meaningful cases such as fixed grip constant strain loading, membrane loading and bending. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On functionally graded balls and cones

The heat equation, for both steady and unsteady situations, is considered when the material parameters are spherically symmetric functions of position. Explicit separated solutions are derived when the material parameters are exponential functions; the radial part of these solutions is given in terms of confluent hypergeometric functions or Whittaker functions. In the steady case, explicit solutions are found when the conductivity k(r)= exp(–r ^q), where and q are parameters with q>0. The behaviour near the tip of a spherically-graded cone is also investigated.     

On the size-dependent behavior of functionally graded micro-beams

In this paper, the size-dependent static and vibration behavior of micro-beams made of functionally graded materials (FGMs) are analytically investigated on the basis of the modified couple stress theory in the elastic range. Functionally graded beams can be considered as inhomogeneous composite structures, with continuously compositional variation from usually a ceramic at the bottom to a metal at the top. The governing equations of motion and boundary conditions are derived on the basis of Hamilton principle. Closed-form solutions for the normalized static deflection and natural frequencies are obtained as a function of the ratio of the beam characteristic size to the internal material length scale parameter and FGM distribution functions of properties. The results show that the static deflection and natural frequencies developed by the modified couple stress theory have a significant difference with those obtained by the classical beam theory when the ratio of the beam characteristic size to the internal material length scale parameter is small.     

功能梯度材料梁的非线性随机振动响应

基于大变形理论建立功能梯度材料(FGM)梁运动方程,将梁的横向位移假定为时间函数和梁线性模态乘积之和,利用伽辽金方法离散为非线性常微分方程组;然后,运用等效线性化方法求得随机激励作用下简支约束的功能梯度材料梁均方位移,与NewMark法和蒙特卡罗方法获得的结果对比,验证该等效线性化方法的可靠性.最后讨论材料梯度指数、激励强度和梁长细比对功能梯度材料梁振动响应的影响.     

Processing and compressive response of functionally graded composites

Use of hollow particles in composite materials provides a unique possibility of creating functionally graded composites (FGCs) where the gradient is present in the particle wall thickness. The present work is focused on developing a processing method for creating such FGCs using hollow particles. The processing method is based on co-curing slurries of various compositions to obtain the desired final composition and configuration of FGCs. The fabricated composites are characterized for compressive properties. In addition, the same types of particles are used to create FGCs containing volume fraction gradient. The compressive properties of both types of composites are compared and some distinct advantages are observed in the wall thickness variation approach, which include better possibilities of tailoring their physical and mechanical properties.     

Imperfection sensitivity in the nonlinear vibration of initially stresses functionally graded plates

In this paper, the nonlinear partial differential equations of nonlinear vibration for an imperfect functionally graded plate (FGP) in a general state of arbitrary initial stresses are presented. The derived equations include the effects of initial stresses and initial imperfections size. The material properties of a FGP are graded continuously in the direction of thickness. The variation of the properties follows a simple power-law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. Using these derived governing equations, the nonlinear vibration of initially stressed FGPs with geometric imperfection was studied. The present approach employed a perturbation technique, the Galerkin method and the Runge–Kutta method. The perturbation technique was used to derive the nonlinear governing equations. The motion of imperfect FGPs was obtained by performing the Galerkin method and then solved by the Runge–Kutta method. Numerical solutions are presented for the performances of perfect and imperfect FGPs. The nonlinear vibration of a simply supported ceramic/metal FGP was solved. It is found that the initial stress, geometric imperfection and volume fraction index greatly change the behavior of nonlinear vibration.     

On the unified equations of functionally graded piezoceramic beams

In this work (part I), we establish the 1D unified equations of a functionally graded piezoceramic beam from the 3D equations of piezoelectricity in both differential and variational forms. The equations of the beam, including a theorem of uniqueness, are obtained using a unified variational principle together with a kinematic-based product method of reduction. In part II, the free vibrations of the beam are considered and the basic properties of eigenvalues are examined. In part III, the equations are derived for the beam under mechanical and electrical bias. Furthermore, a solution for a piezoceramic torsion problem is given.     

Thermo-acoustic random response of temperature-dependent functionally graded material panels

A nonlinear finite element model is provided for the nonlinear random response of functionally graded material panels subject to combined thermal and random acoustic loads. Material properties are assumed to be temperature-dependent, and graded in the thickness direction according to a simple power law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. The governing equations are derived using the first-order shear-deformable plate theory with von Karman geometric nonlinearity and the principle of virtual work. The thermal load is assumed to be steady state constant temperature distribution, and the acoustic excitation is considered to be a stationary white-Gaussian random pressure with zero mean and uniform magnitude over the plate surface. The governing equations are transformed to modal coordinates to reduce the computational efforts. Newton–Raphson iteration method is employed to obtain the dynamic response at each time step of the Newmark implicit scheme for numerical integration. Finally, numerical results are provided to study the effects of volume fraction exponent, temperature rise, and the sound pressure level on the panel response.     

Thermomechanical bending analysis of functionally graded sandwich plates with both functionally graded face sheets and functionally graded cores

The bending response of functionally graded material (FGM) sandwich plates subjected to thermomechanical loads is investigated using a four-variable refined plate theory. A new type of FGM sandwich plate, namely, both FGM face sheets and an FGM hard core, is considered. Containing only four unknown functions, the governing equations are deduced based on the principle of virtual work and then these equations are solved via the Navier approach. Analytical solutions are obtained to predict the deflections and stresses of simply supported FGM sandwich plates. Benchmark comparisons of the solutions obtained for a degradation model (functionally graded face sheets and homogeneous cores) with ones computed by several other theories are conducted to verify the accuracy and efficiency of the present approach. The influences of volume fraction distribution, geometrical parameters, and thermal load on dimensionless deflections and normal and shear stresses of the FGM sandwich plates are studied.     

Bending and creep buckling response of viscoelastic functionally graded beam-columns

The viscoelastic creep response of flexural beams and beam-columns made with functionally graded materials is numerically investigated. The paper highlights the challenges associated with the modeling and analysis of such structures, and presents a nonlinear theoretical model for their bending and creep buckling analysis. The model accounts for the viscoelasticity of the materials using differential-type constitutive relations that are based on the linear Boltzmann’s principle of superposition. The model is general in terms of its ability to deal with any material volume faction distribution through the depth of the beam, and with different linear viscoelastic laws, boundary conditions, and loading schemes. The governing equations are solved through time stepping numerical integration, which yields an exponential algorithm following the expansion of the relaxation function into a Dirichlet series. A numerical study that examines the capabilities of the model and quantifies the creep response of functionally graded beam-columns is presented, with special focus on the stresses and strains redistribution over time and on the creep buckling response. The results show that the creep response of such structures can be strongly nonlinear due to the variation of the viscoelastic properties through the depth, along with unique phenomena that are not observed in homogenous structures.     

Elastic response of functionally graded circular plates under a drop-weight

The three-dimensional impact behaviours of functionally graded (FG) circular plates were studied under a drop-weight. The functionally graded circular plate was composed of ceramic (SiC) and metal (Al) phases and the through-thickness mechanical properties through the region between the metal and ceramic layers vary continuously according to a power-law distribution of the volume fraction of the ceramic. The through-thickness material properties of the FG circular plate were determined using the Mori–Tanaka scheme. The effects of layer number and compositional gradient exponent as well as impactor velocity and plate radius on the elastic impact response of the FG circular plates were investigated. The compositional gradient exponent, impactor velocity and plate radius played an important role on the impact response of the FG circular plates, whereas the layer number through the plate thickness had a minor effect. In addition, the failure strains in all layers were determined using Tamura–Tomota–Ozowa (TTO) model in order to predict the damage regions in each layer through the thickness of FG circular plates.     

Dynamic response of initially stressed functionally graded rectangular thin plates

This paper deals with the dynamic response of initially stressed functionally graded rectangular thin plates subjected to partially distributed impulsive lateral loads and without or resting on an elastic foundation. Material properties are assumed to be temperature-dependent, and graded in the thickness direction according to a simple power law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. The plate is assumed to be clamped on two opposite edges and the remaining two edges may be simply supported or clamped or may have elastic rotational edge constraints. The formulations are based on classical small deflection plate theory, and account for the plate–foundation interaction effects by a two-parameter model (Pasternak-type). A one-dimensional differential quadrature approximation and the Galerkin procedure are employed in the free vibration analysis, and the Modal Superposition Method is used to determine the transient response of the plate structure. A parametric study is carried out. Effects of constituent volume fraction index, foundation stiffness, plate aspect ratio, the shape and duration of impulsive load, as well as the initial membrane stresses on the dynamic response of FGM plates are studied. Comprehensive numerical results for silicon nitride/stainless steel rectangular plates are presented in dimensionless tabular and graphical forms.     

On disappearing Stoneley waves in functionally graded plates

Dispersion analysis of Lamb waves propagating in anisotropic functionally graded plates with transverse inhomogeneity reveals that the high frequency asymptotes associated with the interfacial Stoneley waves disappear, while in stratified plates the corresponding high frequency asymptotes exist. The analysis utilizes a variant of the Cauchy sextic formalism coupled with the exponential fundamental matrices for constructing explicit dispersion equation.

     

Contact problem of a functionally graded layer resting on a Winkler foundation

The contact problem for a functionally graded layer supported by a Winkler foundation is considered using linear elasticity theory in this study. The layer is loaded by means of a rigid cylindrical punch that applies a concentrated force in the normal direction. Poisson’s ratio is taken as constant, and the elasticity modulus is assumed to vary exponentially through the thickness of the layer. The problem is reduced to a Cauchy-type singular integral equation with the use of Fourier integral transform technique and the boundary conditions of the problem. The numerical solution of the integral equation is performed by using Gauss–Chebyshev integration formulas. The effect of the material inhomogeneity, stiffness of the Winkler foundation and punch radius on the contact stress, the contact area and the normal stresses are given.     

Exact solution for thermo-elastic response of functionally graded rectangular plates

Three-dimensional thermo-elastic analysis of functionally graded (FG) rectangular plates with simply supported edges subjected to thermo-mechanical loads are carried out in this paper. The thermo-elastic constants of the plate were assumed to vary exponentially through the thickness, and the Poisson ratio was held constant. Analytical solutions for the temperature, stress and displacement fields are derived by using the Fourier series and state-space method. To verify the accuracy of the present work, a comparison is made with previously published results. The effects of temperature change, applied mechanical load, gradient index, aspect ratio and thickness to length ratio on the behavior of the plate are examined.     

On the dynamic propagation of an anti-plane shear crack in a functionally graded piezoelectric strip

Summary. In this paper, a finite crack propagating at constant speed in a functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) is studied. It is assumed that the electroelastic material properties of the FGPM vary continuously according to exponential gradients along the thickness of the strip, and that the strip is under anti-plane shear mechanical and in-plane electrical loads. The analysis is conducted on the electrically unified (natural) crack boundary condition, which is related to the ellipsoidal crack parameters. By using the Fourier transform, the problem is reduced to the solutions of Fredholm integral equations of the second kind. Numerical results for the stress intensity factor and crack sliding displacement are presented to show the influences of the elliptic crack parameters, crack propagation speed, electric field, FGPM gradation, crack length, and electromechanical coupling coefficient. It reveals that there are considerable differences between traditional electric crack models and the present unified crack model.     

On the dynamic energy release rate in functionally graded materials

By using the effective shear modulus and mass density, the influence of functional gradient on dynamic energy release rate is discussed under the condition of constant velocity of crack propagation.     

功能梯度压电层/压电半空间结构中Love波的传播:一种改进的拉盖尔多项式方法

使用传统的拉盖尔多项式方法求解层状半空间结构时,存在因层间材料差异所造成的应力、电位移不连续的现象。为了克服此方法的不足,提出了一种改进的拉盖尔多项式方法,研究了功能梯度压电层状半空间中Love波的传播特性。与文献中应用WKB法得到的结果进行对比,验证了该方法的正确性。计算和分析了相应的频散曲线、应力和电位移分布曲线。结果表明:该方法能够避免因层间材料差异所造成的应力、电位移不连续现象的出现;高频Love波的应力和电位移主要分布在功能梯度压电层中速度较低的一侧。该研究为基于Love波传感器的设计与优化奠定了一定的理论基础。