Abstract:Higher order stress fields for a mode Ⅰ crack perpendicular to the direction of property variation in a functionally gradient material(FGM), which has an exponential variation of elastic modulus along the gradient direction, were obtained through an asymptotic analysis. The Poisson's ratio of the FGMs was assumed to be constant throughout the analysis. The first five terms in the asymptotic expansions of crack tip stress fields were derived to bring out the influence of nonhomogeneity on the structure of the stress field explicitly. The analysis reveals that only the higher order terms in the expansion are influenced by the material nonhomogeneity. Moreover, it can be seen from expressions of higher order stress fields that at least three terms must be considered in the case of FGMs in order to explicitly account for the nonhomogeneity effects on the structure of crack tip stress fields. 

Key words: functionall gradient material; nonhomogeneity; asymptotic expansion; higher order stress fields