Pergamon Fracture of Functionally Graded Materials: Reprinted from the Journal Engineering Fracture Mechanics, Volume 69, Issue 14-16 , 2002

Scientific research on functionally graded materials (FGM's) looks at functions of gradients in materials comprising thermodynamic, mechanical, chemical, optical, electromagnetic, and/or biological aspects. This collection of technical papers represents current research interests with regard to the fracture behaviour of FGM's. The papers provide a balance between theoretical, computational, and experimental techniques. It also indicates areas for increased development, such as constraint effects, full experimental characterization of engineering FGM's under static and dynamic loading, development of fracture criteria with predictive capability, multiphysics and multiscale failure considerations, and connection of research with industrial applications.