University of Macau / Faculty of Science and Technology. / Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Thesis (Master)--İzmir Institute of Technology, İzmir, 2004 / Includes bibliographical references (leaves. 67).

The purpose of this study is to investigate the behaviour of functionally graded materials in the coating design through analytical and numerical work. Functionally graded materials are advanced composite materials formed from two or more constituents with a continuously varying composition, which results in a continuous variation of material properties from one surface of the material to the other. The concept of functionally graded material is actively explored in coating design where structural and/or functional failures of the coating can happen due to a mismatch between the material properties of the coating and substrate, particularly at the coating/substrate interface. This work focuses on the performance of coated plates with homogeneous and graded coatings under various types of loading to develop a better understanding of their response. Firstly, the three dimensional elasticity solution for an isotropic coated plate with a stiffness gradient in the coating is extended to cover different types of applied loading and then a three dimensional elasticity solution for transversely isotropic materials with gradients in elastic properties is also developed. Based on the extended/developed solutions, a MATLAB code is created to produce a model that would enable the analysis of coated plates for a range of material, geometric and loading parameters. To test the analytical models, a finite element analysis is performed using the commercial finite element software ABAQUS, in which a user material subroutine is employed to generate a gradient in the material properties within each element and increase the accuracy of the results. All the developed analytical and numerical models are then used to carry out a comparative study of three-dimensional stress and displacement fields in the coated plates with homogeneous and graded coatings and establish the effect of various parameters such as coating thickness, coating position, plate dimensions, stiffness gradient, loading distributions and anisotropy on the coated plate response.

Thesis (M.S.) in Mechanical Engineering--University of Maine, 2005. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-142).

This thesis describes the processing and testing of homogeneous nickel and fully yttria stabilized cubic zirconia interpenetrating phase composites. This work was part of a research program investigating step graded Functionally Gradient Materials. This work was focused on understanding the deformation behaviour of the interpenetrating composites near the percolation threshold of the ceramic phase. The composite grades selected for this study included the pure materials, nickel and zirconia, as well as composites with volume fractions of zirconia of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%. These compositions were selected to provide data near the zirconia percolation threshold. Processing of the composites involved tape casting, lamination, organic removal, reduction, and hot pressing. All composites except the 5% volume fraction achieved densities greater than 98% of theoretical. Tensile testing was performed on composite grades up to and including the 20% zirconia material, and flexural testing was carried out on the 25% material and pure zirconia. The maximum tensile strength of 530 MPa was obtained in the 10% material resulting from load transfer to the zirconia phase. Ductility decreased as the volume fraction of zirconia increased, with no macroscopic plasticity above 15% volume fraction zirconia. Hardness tests and compression tests were carried out on all composite grades and the yield stress was determined.The compressive yield stress was found to be related to the hardness by the equation: H=6σy This relationship is a result of the constraint imposed on the nickel phase by the zirconia network. Measurements of damage in one pure nickel sample were also performed. The area fraction of voids as a function of local strain was found to follow an exponential relationship. The Young’s modulus of each material was determined ultrasonically and found to be uniform as expected. Modeling of the tensile specimens indicated that materials above the zirconia percolation threshold work harden more rapidly than those below it. This is not accounted for in the model by Ravichandran. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2007. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (ℓ. 156-163)

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Rhode Island, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 201-207).

Thesis (M.S.)--Washington State University, December 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Rhode Island, 2009. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 171-177).

Thesis (M.S.) in Mechanical Engineering--University of Maine, 2005. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-154).