Analysis of thermal stress in a plate of functionally gradient material

Composite materials made of ceramics and metal are already used in heat resistant parts, such as pistons. Functionally gradient materials (FGM) are new composite materials that reduce the thermal stress caused by the difference of thermal expansion and that are resistant to super high temperature.In order to support the design of FGM, we have developed computer programs that analyze the transient heat transfer and the transient thermal stress of FGM by the finite element method (FEM). In this paper, the thermal stress analysis by these programs of an FGM plate, composed of Zr0₂ and Ti-6A1-4V, is discussed.