-----
Title:
-----

Recent Advances in Modeling Functionally Graded Materials

-----------
Organizers:
-----------

Jeong-Ho Kim
Dept. of Civil and Environmental Eng.
University of Connecticut
261 Glenbrook Rd. Unit 2037
Storrs, Connecticut 06269-2037
Phone: (860) 486-2746
Fax:     (860) 486-2298
E-mail: jhkim@engr.uconn.edu

-------------------------
Minisymposium description:
------------------------- 

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) are characterized by non-uniform and heterogeneous 
microstructures and multi-physical (thermal, mechanical, chemical, and electrical) material 
behavior. These characteristics require an integrated scientific research equipped with 
theoretical and numerical modeling and experiments. The goal of this mini-symposium is to 
appreciate recent advances in modeling functionally graded materials and to provide vision 
for future research activities. This symposium will cover various topics that include, but 
not limited to stress analysis, fatigue, fracture, creep damage, crack growth, nonlinearity, 
micromechanics models, and multi-scale modeling. The papers that address multi-physical 
modeling in functionally graded fuel cells are also greatly welcomed.