Residual stress analysis of functionally gradient materials

Functionally gradient materials (FGM) are new engineering materials without fully understanding. One important aspect in mechanical analysis of FGM is to determine a gradient distribution that finally results in maximum thermal stress relaxation. In this paper, numerical analysis by finite element method and experimental analysis by Moire interference method were carried out to study the stress distribution in FGM. Much attention was paid on the edge effect stresses in the coating/substrate structures, and their dependence on the different gradient distribution of the new kind of composite materials. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.