Nonlinear size-dependent finite element analysis of functionally graded elastic tiny-bodies

In this paper, a nonlinear size-dependent finite element model incorporating surface energy effects is developed to study the mechanical behavior of tiny elastic functionally graded (FG) bodies. Here the classical elasticity theory is modified to incorporate the surface energy effects. Most of previous studies assumed that the surface energy depends only on the 20 symmetric infinitesimal surface strains and neglects the second-order products of surface strains/displacement gradients. These descriptions assume a small strain deformation of the surface and neglect the pre-strain that is, already, developed on the surface - before loading - due to the pre-tension stress sigma(0). Here in this paper, the pre-strain is considered which forces the surface to a state of large strain after loading instead of small strain. In this sense, in the presence of initial surface tension, the theory of surface elasticity is a hybrid formulation characterized by linearized bulk elastic material and second order finite deformation of the surface. In the proposed finite element model, the surface energy effect is taken into account in the derivation of the element stiffness matrix for the material elements located very close to the boundary surface. The proposed model is then used to study the effects of surface energy, including the 2nd order displacement gradient, on the mechanical behavior of plane-strain functionally graded elastic body. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.