Graded materials or functionally graded materials
(FGMs) are multiphase composites with continuously
varying volume fractions and, consequently, thermo-
mechanical properties. The concept of grading the
thermo-mechanical properties of materials provides
an important tool to design new materials for
certain specific functions. To take full advantage
of this new tool research is needed not only for
developing efficient processing methods and material
characterization techniques but also for carrying
out basic mechanics studies to the safety and
durability of the FGM components. The analytical
procedure is based on obtaining the Green's
functions of the half space problem in order to
derive the integral equations of the contact
problem. This book provides the solution of these
integral equations to obtain a series of analytical
benchmark solutions of the contact mechanics
problems including critical contact stresses at the
surface of the graded coating that may have a
bearing on the fatigue and fracture of the
components with FGM coatings.
(FGMs) are multiphase composites with continuously
varying volume fractions and, consequently, thermo-
mechanical properties. The concept of grading the
thermo-mechanical properties of materials provides
an important tool to design new materials for
certain specific functions. To take full advantage
of this new tool research is needed not only for
developing efficient processing methods and material
characterization techniques but also for carrying
out basic mechanics studies to the safety and
durability of the FGM components. The analytical
procedure is based on obtaining the Green's
functions of the half space problem in order to
derive the integral equations of the contact
problem. This book provides the solution of these
integral equations to obtain a series of analytical
benchmark solutions of the contact mechanics
problems including critical contact stresses at the
surface of the graded coating that may have a
bearing on the fatigue and fracture of the
components with FGM coatings.