FUNCTIONALLY GRADED MATERIALS - PROPERTIES, POTENTIAL AND DESIGN GUIDELINES

NiAl-Al2O3 FGMs show excellent thermal shock properties and graceful, serrated failure at high temperatures and strains. However, simple lam inar structures invariably suffer from some degree of curvature at roo m temperature. A residual strain minimization model previously shown t o give good agreement with experiment is used to develop guidelines fo r composite architectural design. Intuitively based structures utilizi ng gradual changes in NiAl content may not be as useful. Composite app lications and future design needs are discussed.