International Journal of Computational Engineering Science, Vol. 5, Nos. 4, 2004
G.H. Paulino
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign, Newmark
Laboratory, 205 North Mathews Avenue, IL
61801, U.S.A.
Editorial
In essence, functionally graded materials (FGMs) are characterized by spatially varied microstructures created by non-uniform distributions of the reinforcement phase with different properties, sizes and shapes, as well as by interchanging the role of reinforcement and matrix materials in a continuous manner. This new concept of engineering the material microstructure marks the beginning of a paradigm shift in the way we think about materials and structures as it allows one, due to recent advances in material processing, to fully integrate material and structural design considerations.
In the present edition, a collection of technical papers is presented that represents current research interests with regard to modeling of FGMs. All the participants have contributed to advancing the state of knowledge in FGMs, and this special issue demonstrates that our understanding of modeling of FGMs is becoming increasingly clear. However, it also indicates areas for further progress, such as connection of research with industrial applications and development of comprehensive multiscale multiphysics models. In fact, multiscale phenomena is a focus area of the next international conference in the field of FGMs, which will be held in 2006 at Hawaii, and it is entitled “Mutiscale and Functionally Graded Materials" (FGM 2006).
The Guest Editor would like to thank Prof. J. N. Reddy for his invitation to assemble this set of papers on Modeling of FGMs, the authors and reviewers for their scienti_c contributions and constructive criticism, respectively, Ms. Joyce Snider for her invaluable help with the secretarial work, and Mr. Yeow-Hwa Quek for his excellent work at the publishing office.