Stresses in thick-walled FGM cylinders with exponentially-varying properties

Power series solutions for stresses and displacements in functionally-graded cylindrical vessels subjected to internal pressure alone are obtained using the infinitesimal theory of elasticity. The material is assumed to be isotropic with constant Poisson's ratio and exponentially-varying elastic modulus through the thickness. Stress distributions depending on an inhomogeneity constant are calculated and presented in the form of graphs. The inhomogeneity constant which includes continuously varying volume fraction of the constituents is empirically determined. The values used in this study are arbitrarily chosen to demonstrate the effect of inhomogeneity on stress distribution. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.