Analytical Solution for Radial Deformations of Functionally Graded Isotropic and Incompressible Second-Order Elastic Hollow Spheres

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We analytically analyze radial expansion/contraction of a hollow sphere composed of a second-order elastic, isotropic, incompressible and inhomogeneous material to delineate differences and similarities between solutions of the first- and the second-order problems. The two elastic moduli are assumed to be either affine or power-law functions of the radial coordinate R in the undeformed reference configuration. For the affine variation of the shear modulus μ, the hoop stress for the linear elastic (or the first-order) problem at the point R=(R ou R in (R ou +R in )/2)1/3 is independent of the slope of the μ vs. R line. Here R in and R ou equal, respectively, the inner and the outer radius of the sphere in the reference configuration. For μ(R)∝R n , for the linear problem, the hoop stress is constant in the sphere for n=1. However, no such results are found for the second-order (i.e., materially nonlinear) problem. Whereas for the first-order problem the shear modulus influences only the radial displacement and not the stresses, for the second-order problem the two elastic constants affect both the radial displacement and the stresses. In a very thick homogeneous hollow sphere subjected only to pressure on the outer surface, the hoop stress at a point on the inner surface depends upon values of the two elastic moduli. Thus conclusions drawn from the analysis of the first-order problem do not hold for the second-order problem. Closed form solutions for the displacement and stresses for the first-order and the second-order problems provided herein can be used to verify solutions of the problem obtained by using numerical methods.