Analytical solution of a cantilever functionally graded beam

The problem of a cantilever functionally graded beam subjected to different loads is studied. In terms of Airy stress function a general two-dimensional solution is presented for a cantilever functionally graded beam, assuming that all the elastic moduli of the material have the same variations along the beam-thickness direction. Explicit expressions of analytical solutions to some specific examples under different boundary conditions are obtained to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed general solution technique. This solution will be useful in analyzing functionally graded beam with arbitrary variations of material properties and it can serve as a basis for establishing simplified functionally graded beam theories.