Nonlinear transient stress and wave propagation analyses of the FGM thick cylinders, employing a unified generalized thermoelasticity theory

In the present paper, nonlinear generalized (with second sound effects) and classical thermoelasticity analyses are performed for functionally graded thick cylinders with temperature-dependent material properties subjected to various thermomechanical shocks at their inner and outer surfaces, employing Hermitian elements. The unified generalized thermoelasticity approach is composed of three distinct theories and employed to study the thermoelastic wave propagation and reflection phenomena. In contrast to the available rare researches proposed so far based on the generalized theories, the continuity condition of the stress components at the mutual boundaries of the elements and the temperature-dependency of the material properties are taken into account. Furthermore, Mori–Tanaka homogenization model of variations of the material properties is employed instead of the simple rule of mixture. Transfinite element approach is employed to determine the transient responses. Besides, the formulation considers effects of both mechanical and thermal shocks. Influences of the lags between the thermal and elastic waves are among the interesting observations of the present paper.