Experimental Fracture Mechanics of Functionally Graded Materials: An Overview of Optical Investigations

The experimental efforts towards understanding the fracture behavior of continuously graded Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs) using full-field optical methods are reviewed. Both quasi-static and dynamic fracture investigations involving mode-I and -II conditions are presented. FGM configurations with crack planes perpendicular to, parallel to, and inclined to the direction of compositional gradation are discussed. Different strategies adopted by various investigators to develop polymer-based FGM systems for experimental mechanics studies are also described in this overview. Major theoretical developments that have predated and paralleled the experimental studies have been presented as well. Finally, the paper notes a few potential new directions where further contributions are possible. This is the 5th in a series of featured review articles to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Experimental Mechanics. These articles serve to touch on both areas of mechanics where the journal has contributed extensively in the past and emergent areas for the future. C.-E. Rousseau · A. Shukla (SEM Fellow) University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA C.-E. Rousseau e-mail: [email protected] A. Shukla e-mail: [email protected] V.B. Chalivendra (SEM member) University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, MA, USA e-mail: [email protected] H.V. Tippur (B, SEM member) Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA e-mail: [email protected]