An exploration of tensile fracture in a nonhomogeneous elastic material

The theoretical analysis of a mode I crack in functionally graded material is presented and the numerical values of the stresses and displacements are obtained for particular material parameters. Numerical results are obtained through inverse Mellin transforms. It was found that in most cases, the material inhomogeneity parameter had a greater effect on the stresses and displacements than did Poisson’s ratio. The energy release rate for the mode I and mode III cracks are analyzed and it was noted that under certain conditions the energy release rate vanishes.