Non-local constitutive equations for functionally graded materials

In this paper, composites with a graded distribution of heterogeneities are considered. The heterogeneities vary in statistically non-uniform fashion since in a finite layer (or region) properties such as local volume fraction vary gradually. In order to study this class of composites, a procedure of analysis which leads to the effective constitutive non-local operator of the medium is proposed. For two-phase composites, an approximation of Hashin–Shtrikman type for this operator has been obtained in real space and this has been developed explicitly in the case of laminates.