The document describes a stochastic multiscale fracture analysis method for functionally graded materials. The method uses polynomial dimensional decomposition (PDD) to efficiently calculate crack-driving forces and fracture reliability in three-dimensional functionally graded media with random microstructure and material properties. It was applied to an edge-cracked silicon carbide-aluminum functionally graded material with spatially varying particle distribution and material properties modeled as random fields. The method required fewer simulations than Monte Carlo and efficiently generated stress intensity factor distributions and probability of fracture initiation along the crack front. Future work will include modeling crack growth and additional failure mechanisms.

1. Sharif Rahman The University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 52245 Stochastic Multiscale Fracture Analysis of 3D Functionally Graded Media 2009 ASME PVP Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, July 2009 Work supported by NSF (CMS-0409463) Arindam Chakraborty Structural Integrity Associates San Jose, CA 95138