Abstract
Material structures exhibiting a tailored variation in properties are collectively termed functionally graded materials (FGMs). Despite the considerable advances in understanding of FGMs over the past decade, several key areas require further work, including the fatigue behaviour of, and crack propagation paths in, FGMs. Graded alumina-epoxy composite samples, exhibiting an approximately continuous spatial variation in composition and properties, have been produced via an infiltration process. Fatigue cracks have been initiated and propagated under cyclic four-point bend loading. Crack deflection has been observed, along with subsequent deviation and curvature as the crack moves through the graded region. A variation in fatigue crack growth resistance was observed as the crack moved through regions of varying composition. A finite element model, which employs automatic crack extension and remeshing, has been developed to simulate the propagation process. Particular attention was paid to the criteria used for crack propagation and deflection, and to the effects of bridging on crack path. Experimental results and modeling predictions are presented and compared.
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