Steady-state creep analysis of a functionally graded thick cylinder subjected to internal pressure and thermal gradient

Abstract

Abstract The steady-state creep behavior in an isotropic functionally graded composite cylinder subjected to internal pressure has been analyzed in the presence of a thermal gradient. The cylinder is assumed to be made of a functionally graded composite containing silicon carbide particles in a matrix of pure aluminum. The effect of imposing a linear particle as well as a thermal gradient on the distribution of creep stresses and creep rates in the functionally graded cylinder has been investigated. The study shows that in the presence of both thermal and particle gradients, the radial stress decreases throughout the cylinder, whereas the tangential, axial, and effective stresses increase significantly near the inner radius but show a significant decrease towards the outer radius. The strain rates as well as strain-rate inhomogeneity in the composite cylinder could be reduced to a significant extent by imposing thermal and particle gradients alone or together, while keeping the same average amount of reinforcement.