Numerical analysis of stress intensity factors in three-dimensional functionally graded materials

In this paper, a finite element method based on nonhomogeneous elements is used to study crack problems in three-dimensional (3D) functionally graded materials (FGMs). Since the actual material properties at each integral point are employed in the integration during formation of the element stiffness matrix, each element can have nonhomogeneous material properties. By this method, the number of elements is reduced and the meshing effort for the structure is simplified. Therefore, the modeling process for numerical simulation of fracture behavior in 3D FGMs is greatly simplified. The crack front characteristics of Mode-I edge penetrable crack in 3D FGM specimens are studied under uniform tension loading. The influence of material nonhomogeneity constant and geometric parameters on the stress intensity factors (SIFs) of the 3D FGM specimens are investigated.