Transient temperature distribution in composites with layers of functionally graded materials (FGMs)

Solution to the non-homogeneous problem of transient heat conduction in a composite medium consisting of a number of parallel layers of functionally graded materials (FGMs) is presented. A generalized program (algorithm) is developed which can be used to obtain the time-dependent temperature profile through laminates having discrete layers of FGMs. It can also be used in case of continuously graded FGM layers by discretizing and replacing them with a reasonably chosen number of sublayers. Working of the algorithm is demonstrated through the solution obtained for the transient response of a thermal barrier coating (TBC) system.