A micropolar model for elastic properties in functionally graded materials
By considering the description of phase volume fractions, a micromechanics model is presented for predicting the elastic mechanical properties of isotropic two-phase functionally graded materials. The particle size dependence of the overall elasticity of functionally graded materials is not generally considered by classical continuum micromechanics; however, being based on micropolar theory, the presented micromechanics model is able to study such size effects. As the effective material properties vary gradually along the gradation direction, a functionally graded material can be divided into two distinct zones: the particle–matrix zone and the transition zone. In the particle–matrix zone, the matrix material is idealized as a micropolar continuum and Mori–Tanaka’s method is extended to the micropolar medium to evaluate the effective elastic properties. The effective properties across the gradation forms are further derived and the effects of particle size on the effective properties of a functionally graded materials are also studied. The validity and effectiveness of the present model is demonstrated by comparing the model results with other model outputs and experimental data.