Effect of material nonhomogeneity on the mechanical behaviors of a thick-walled functionally graded sandwich cylindrical structure

In this investigation, the effect of material nonhomogeneity on the mechanical behaviors of a thick-walled sandwich cylindrical structure embedded with a functionally graded (FG) interlayer is investigated. The inner of the sandwich cylindrical structure is a homogeneous and isotropic layer. The outer is a homogeneous and orthotropic layer and the middle is a transition layer. A three-parameter model is presented to model the transitional form of the FG interlayer. The laminate approach method is employed to tackle the material nonhomogeneity. The analytical solutions are obtained by employing the initial parameter method. Numerical results show that the material nonhomogeneity plays important roles on the mechanical behaviors of a sandwich cylindrical structure.

► We investigate the material nonhomogeneity on the mechanical behaviors.
► The thick-walled functionally graded sandwich cylindrical structure is studied.
► The transitional gradient is modeled by the three-parameter model.
► Analytical solution is obtained by the initial parameter method.
► The mechanical behaviors can be tuned by choosing proper gradient variation forms.