Elastic/plastic stress and strain fields are obtained in a functionally graded annular disc of constant thickness subject to external pressure, followed by unloading. The elastic modulus and tensile yield stress of the disc are assumed to vary along the radius whereas the Poisson’s ratio is kept constant. The flow theory of plasticity is employed. However, it is shown that the equations of the associated flow rule, which are originally written in terms of plastic strain rate, can be integrated with respect to the time giving the corresponding equations in terms of plastic strain. This feature of the solution significantly facilitates the solution. The general solution is given for arbitrary variations of the elastic modulus and tensile yield stress along the radial coordinate. However, it is assumed that plastic yielding is initiated at the inner radius of the disc and that no other plastic region appears in the course of deformation. The solution in the plastic region at loading reduces to two ordinary differential equations. These equations are solved one by one. Unloading is assumed to be purely elastic. This assumption should be verified a posteriori. An illustrative example demonstrates the effect of the variation of the elastic modulus and tensile yield stress along the radius on the distribution of stresses and strains at the end of loading and after unloading. In this case, it is assumed that the material properties vary according to power-law functions.
On the estimation of tensile yield stress for polymer materials based on punch tests
