Theoretical analysis on elastic buckling of nanobeams based on stress-driven nonlocal integral model

Several studies indicate that Eringen's nonlocal model may lead to some inconsistencies for both Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko beams, such as cantilever beams subjected to an end point force and fixed-fixed beams subjected a uniform distributed load. In this paper, the elastic buckling behavior of nanobeams, including both EulerBernoulli and Timoshenko beams, is investigated on the basis of a stress-driven nonlocal integral model. The constitutive equations are the Fredholm-type integral equations of the first kind, which can be transformed to the Volterra integral equations of the first kind. With the application of the Laplace transformation, the general solutions of the deflections and bending moments for the Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko beams as well as the rotation and shear force for the Timoshenko beams are obtained explicitly with several unknown constants. Considering the boundary conditions and extra constitutive constraints, the characteristic equations are obtained explicitly for the Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko beams under different boundary conditions, from which one can determine the critical buckling loads of nanobeams. The effects of the nonlocal parameters and buckling order on the buckling loads of nanobeams are studied numerically, and a consistent toughening effect is obtained.     

Higher-order shear beam theories and enriched continuum

The buckling of higher-order shear beam-columns is studied in the light of enriched continuum. We show the equivalence between the enriched kinematics of usual higher-order shear beam theories with the nonlocal and gradient nature of the associated constitutive law. These equivalences are useful for a hierarchical classification of usual beam theories comprising Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, Timoshenko and third-order shear beam theories. A consistent variationnally presentation is derived for all generic theories, leading to meaningful buckling solutions. It is shown that Timoshenko or some other higher-order shear theories can be considered as nonlocal or gradient Euler-Bernoulli theories. The buckling problem of a third-order shear beam-column is analytically studied and treated in the framework of gradient elasticity Timoshenko theory. Some different gradient elasticity Timoshenko models are presented at the end of the paper with available buckling solutions for repetitive structures and microstructured beams.     

A higher-order nonlocal elasticity and strain gradient theory and its applications in wave propagation

In recent years there have been many papers that considered the effects of material length scales in the study of mechanics of solids at micro- and/or nano-scales. There are a number of approaches and, among them, one set of papers deals with Eringen's differential nonlocal model and another deals with the strain gradient theories. The modified couple stress theory, which also accounts for a material length scale, is a form of a strain gradient theory. The large body of literature that has come into existence in the last several years has created significant confusion among researchers about the length scales that these various theories contain. The present paper has the objective of establishing the fact that the length scales present in nonlocal elasticity and strain gradient theory describe two entirely different physical characteristics of materials and structures at nanoscale. By using two principle kernel functions, the paper further presents a theory with application examples which relates the classical nonlocal elasticity and strain gradient theory and it results in a higher-order nonlocal strain gradient theory. In this theory, a higher-order nonlocal strain gradient elasticity system which considers higher-order stress gradients and strain gradient nonlocality is proposed. It is based on the nonlocal effects of the strain field and first gradient strain field. This theory intends to generalize the classical nonlocal elasticity theory by introducing a higher-order strain tensor with nonlocality into the stored energy function. The theory is distinctive because the classical nonlocal stress theory does not include nonlocality of higher-order stresses while the common strain gradient theory only considers local higher-order strain gradients without nonlocal effects in a global sense. By establishing the constitutive relation within the thermodynamic framework, the governing equations of equilibrium and all boundary conditions are derived via the variational approach. Two additional kinds of parameters, the higher-order nonlocal parameters and the nonlocal gradient length coefficients are introduced to account for the size-dependent characteristics of nonlocal gradient materials at nanoscale. To illustrate its application values, the theory is applied for wave propagation in a nonlocal strain gradient system and the new dispersion relations derived are presented through examples for wave propagating in Euler–Bernoulli and Timoshenko nanobeams. The numerical results based on the new nonlocal strain gradient theory reveal some new findings with respect to lattice dynamics and wave propagation experiment that could not be matched by both the classical nonlocal stress model and the contemporary strain gradient theory. Thus, this higher-order nonlocal strain gradient model provides an explanation to some observations in the classical and nonlocal stress theories as well as the strain gradient theory in these aspects.     

Buckling analysis of functionally graded nanobeams under non-uniform temperature using stress-driven nonlocal elasticity

In this work, the size-dependent buckling of functionally graded(FG)Bernoulli-Euler beams under non-uniform temperature is analyzed based on the stressdriven nonlocal elasticity and nonlocal heat conduction. By utilizing the variational principle of virtual work, the governing equations and the associated standard boundary conditions are systematically extracted, and the thermal effect, equivalent to the induced thermal load, is explicitly assessed by using the nonlocal heat conduction law. The ...     

On the truth of nanoscale for nanobeams based on nonlocal elastic stress field theory： equilibrium, governing equation and static deflection

This paper has successfully addressed three critical but overlooked issues in nonlocal elastic stress field theory for nanobeams： （i） why does the presence of increasing nonlocal effects induce reduced nanostructural stiffness in many, but not consistently for all, cases of study, i.e., increasing static deflection, decreasing natural frequency and decreasing buckling load, although physical intuition according to the nonlocal elasticity field theory first established by Eringen tells otherwise？ （ii） the intriguing conclusion that nanoscale effects are missing in the solutions in many exemplary cases of study, e.g., bending deflection of a cantilever nanobeam with a point load at its tip; and （iii） the non-existence of additional higher-order boundary conditions for a higher-order governing differential equation. Applying the nonlocal elasticity field theory in nanomechanics and an exact variational principal approach, we derive the new equilibrium conditions, do- main governing differential equation and boundary conditions for bending of nanobeams. These equations and conditions involve essential higher-order differential terms which are opposite in sign with respect to the previously studies in the statics and dynamics of nonlocal nano-structures. The difference in higher-order terms results in reverse trends of nanoscale effects with respect to the conclusion of this paper. Effectively, this paper reports new equilibrium conditions, governing differential equation and boundary condi- tions and the true basic static responses for bending of nanobeams. It is also concluded that the widely accepted equilibrium conditions of nonlocal nanostructures are in fact not in equilibrium, but they can be made perfect should the nonlocal bending moment be replaced by an effective nonlocal bending moment. These conclusions are substantiated, in a general sense, by other approaches in nanostructural models such as strain gradient theory, modified couple stress models and experiments.     

Bending and stability analysis of gradient elastic beams

The problems of bending and stability of Bernoulli–Euler beams are solved analytically on the basis of a simple linear theory of gradient elasticity with surface energy. The governing equations of equilibrium are obtained by both a combination of the basic equations and a variational statement. The additional boundary conditions are obtained by both variational and weighted residual approaches. Two boundary value problems (one for bending and one for stability) are solved and the gradient elasticity effect on the beam bending response and its critical (buckling) load is assessed for both cases. It is found that beam deflections decrease and buckling load increases for increasing values of the gradient coefficient, while the surface energy effect is small and insignificant for bending and buckling, respectively.     

INVESTIGATIONS ON THE MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF NANOBEAMS BASED ON THE NONLOCAL STRAIN GRADIENT THEORY1)

基于非局部应变梯度理论,建立了一种具有尺度效应的高阶剪切变形纳米梁的力学模型. 其中,考虑了应变场和一阶应变梯度场下的非局部效应. 采用哈密顿原理推导了纳米梁的控制方程和边界条件,并给出了简支边界条件下静弯曲、自由振动和线性屈曲问题的纳维级数解. 数值结果表明,非局部效应对梁的刚度产生软化作用,应变梯度效应对纳米梁的刚度产生硬化作用,梁的刚度整体呈现软化还是硬化效应依赖于非局部参数与材料特征尺度的比值. 梁的厚度与材料特征尺度越接近,非局部应变梯度理论与经典弹性理论所预测结果之间的差异越显著.     

THERMAL POST-BUCKLING OF FUNCTIONALLY GRADED MATERIAL TIMOSHENKO BEAMS

Analysis of thermal post-buckling of FGM (Functionally Graded Material) Timoshenko beams subjected to transversely non-uniform temperature rise is presented. By accurately considering the axial extension and transverse shear deformation in the sense of theory of Timoshenko beam, geometrical nonlinear governing equations including seven basic unknown functions for functionally graded beams subjected to mechanical and thermal loads were formulated. In the analysis, it was assumed that the material properties of the beam vary continuously as a power function of the thickness coordinate. By using a shooting method, the obtained nonlinear boundary value problem was numerically solved and thermal buckling and post-buckling response of transversely non-uniformly heated FGM Timoshenko beams with fixed-fixed edges were obtained. Characteristic curves of the buckling deformation of the beam varying with thermal load and the power law index are plotted. The effects of material gradient property on the buckling deformation and critical temperature of beam were discussed in details. The results show that there exists the tension-bend coupling deformation in the uniformly heated beam because of the transversely non-uniform characteristic of materials.     

Instability of functionally graded micro-beams via micro-structure-dependent beam theory

This paper focuses on the buckling behaviors of a micro-scaled bi-directional functionally graded (FG) beam with a rectangular cross-section, which is now widely used in fabricating components of micro-nano-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) with a wide range of aspect ratios. Based on the modified couple stress theory and the principle of minimum potential energy, the governing equations and boundary conditions for a micro-structure-dependent beam theory are derived. The present beam theory incorporates different kinds of higher-order shear assumptions as well as the two familiar beam theories, namely, the Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko beam theories. A numerical solution procedure, based on a generalized differential quadrature method (GDQM), is used to calculate the results of the bi-directional FG beams. The effects of the two exponential FG indexes, the higher-order shear deformations, the length scale parameter, the geometric dimensions, and the different boundary conditions on the critical buckling loads are studied in detail, by assuming that Young’s modulus obeys an exponential distribution function in both length and thickness directions. To reach the desired critical buckling load, the appropriate exponential FG indexes and geometric shape of micro-beams can be designed according to the proposed theory.     

Small scale effects on buckling and postbuckling behaviors of axially loaded FGM nanoshells based on nonlocal strain gradient elasticity theory

By means of a comprehensive theory of elasticity, namely, a nonlocal strain gradient continuum theory, size-dependent nonlinear axial instability characteristics of cylindrical nanoshells made of functionally graded material (FGM) are examined. To take small scale effects into consideration in a more accurate way, a nonlocal stress field parameter and an internal length scale parameter are incorporated simultaneously into an exponential shear deformation shell theory. The variation of material properties associated with FGM nanoshells is supposed along the shell thickness, and it is modeled based on the Mori-Tanaka homogenization scheme. With a boundary layer theory of shell buckling and a perturbation-based solving process, the nonlocal strain gradient load-deflection and load-shortening stability paths are derived explicitly. It is observed that the strain gradient size effect causes to the increases of both the critical axial buckling load and the width of snap-through phenomenon related to the postbuckling regime, while the nonlocal size dependency leads to the decreases of them. Moreover, the influence of the nonlocal type of small scale effect on the axial instability characteristics of FGM nanoshells is more than that of the strain gradient one.     

Nonlocal gradient-dependent modeling of plasticity with anisotropic hardening

This work addresses the formulation of the thermodynamics of nonlocal plasticity using the gradient theory. The formulation is based on the nonlocality energy residual introduced by Eringen and Edelen (1972). Gradients are introduced for those variables associated with isotropic and kinematic hardening. The formulation applies to small strain gradient plasticity and makes use of the evanescent memory model for kinematic hardening. This is accomplished using the kinematic flux evolution as developed by Zbib and Aifantis (1988). Therefore, the present theory is a four nonlocal parameter-based theory that accounts for the influence of large variations in the plastic strain, accumulated plastic strain, accumulated plastic strain gradients, and the micromechanical evolution of the kinematic flux. Using the principle of virtual power and the laws of thermodynamics, thermodynamically-consistent equations are derived for the nonlocal plasticity yield criterion and associated flow rule. The presence of higher-order gradients in the plastic strain is shown to enhance a corresponding history variable which arises from the accumulation of the plastic strain gradients. Furthermore, anisotropy is introduced by plastic strain gradients in the form of kinematic hardening. Plastic strain gradients can be attributed to the net Burgers vector, while gradients in the accumulation of plastic strain are responsible for the introduction of isotropic hardening. The equilibrium between internal Cauchy stress and the microstresses conjugate to the higher-order gradients frames the yield criterion, which is obtained from the principle of virtual power. Microscopic boundary conditions, associated with plastic flow, are introduced to supplement the macroscopic boundary conditions of classical plasticity. The nonlocal formulation developed here preserves the classical assumption of local plasticity, wherein plastic flow direction is governed by the deviatoric Cauchy stress. The theory is applied to the problems of thin films on both soft and hard substrates. Numerical solutions are presented for bi-axial tension and simple shear loading of thin films on substrates.     

Effects of local thickness defects on the buckling of micro-beam

A buckling model of Timoshenko micro-beam with local thickness defects is established based on a modified gradient elasticity. By introducing the local thickness defects function of the micro-beam, the variable coe-cient differential equations of the buckling problem are obtained with the variational principle. Combining the eigensolution series of the complete micro-beam with the Galerkin method, we obtain the critical load and buckling modes of the micro-beam with defects. The results show that the depth and location of the defect are the main factors affecting the critical load, and the combined effect of boundary conditions and defects can significantly change the buckling mode of the micro-beam. The effect of defect location on buckling is related to the axial gradient of the rotation angle, and defects should be avoided at the maximum axial gradient of the rotation angle. The model and method are also applicable to the static deformation and vibration of the micro-beam.     

Vibration analysis of piezoelectric sandwich nanobeam with flexoelectricity based on nonlocal strain gradient theory

A nonlocal strain gradient theory(NSGT) accounts for not only the nongradient nonlocal elastic stress but also the nonlocality of higher-order strain gradients,which makes it benefit from both hardening and softening effects in small-scale structures.In this study, based on the NSGT, an analytical model for the vibration behavior of a piezoelectric sandwich nanobeam is developed with consideration of flexoelectricity. The sandwich nanobeam consists of two piezoelectric sheets and a non-piezoelectric core. The governing equation of vibration of the sandwich beam is obtained by the Hamiltonian principle. The natural vibration frequency of the nanobeam is calculated for the simply supported(SS) boundary, the clamped-clamped(CC) boundary, the clamped-free(CF)boundary, and the clamped-simply supported(CS) boundary. The effects of geometric dimensions, length scale parameters, nonlocal parameters, piezoelectric constants, as well as the flexoelectric constants are discussed. The results demonstrate that both the flexoelectric and piezoelectric constants enhance the vibration frequency of the nanobeam.The nonlocal stress decreases the natural vibration frequency, while the strain gradient increases the natural vibration frequency. The natural vibration frequency based on the NSGT can be increased or decreased, depending on the value of the nonlocal parameter to length scale parameter ratio.     

Effects of microscopic boundary conditions on plastic deformations of small-sized single crystals

The finite deformation version of the higher-order gradient crystal plasticity model proposed by the authors is applied to solve plane strain boundary value problems, in order to obtain an understanding of the effect of the higher-order boundary conditions. Numerical solutions are carried out for uniaxial plane strain compression of a single crystal block and for uniform pure bending of a single crystal foil. The compressed block has loading surfaces that are penetrable or impenetrable to dislocations. This allows for a study of the two types of higher-order boundaries available, and a significant effect of higher-order boundary conditions on the overall deformation mode of the block is observed. The bent foil has free surfaces through which dislocations can go out of the material, and we observe a strong size-dependent mechanical response resulting from the surface condition assumed.     

Formulation of strain gradient plasticity with interface energy in a consistent thermodynamic framework

In this work, the strain gradient formulation is used within the context of the thermodynamic principle, internal state variables, and thermodynamic and dissipation potentials. These in turn provide balance of momentum, boundary conditions, yield condition and flow rule, and free energy and dissipative energies. This new formulation contributes to the following important related issues: (i) the effects of interface energy that are incorporated into the formulation to address various boundary conditions, strengthening and formation of the boundary layers, (ii) nonlocal temperature effects that are crucial, for instance, for simulating the behavior of high speed machining for metallic materials using the strain gradient plasticity models, (iii) a new form of the nonlocal flow rule, (iv) physical bases of the length scale parameter and its identification using nano-indentation experiments and (v) a wide range of applications of the theory. Applications to thin films on thick substrates for various loading conditions and torsion of thin wires are investigated here along with the appropriate length scale effect on the behavior of these structures. Numerical issues of the theory are discussed and results are obtained using Matlab and Mathematica for the nonlinear ordinary differential equations (NODE) which constitute the boundary value problem.This study reveals that the micro-stress term has an important effect on the development of the boundary layers and hardening of the material at both hard and soft interface boundary conditions in thin films. The interface boundary conditions are described by the interfacial length scale and interfacial strength parameters. These parameters are important to control the size effect and hardening of the material. For more complex geometries the generalized form of the boundary value problem using the nonlocal finite element formulation is required to address the problems involved.     

Bending and buckling of thin strain gradient elastic beams

Bending of strain gradient elastic thin beams is studied adopting Bernoulli-Euler principle. Simple linear strain gradient elastic theory with surface energy is employed. The governing beam equations with its boundary conditions are derived through a variational method. It turns out that new terms are introduced, indicating the importance of the cross-section area in bending of thin beams. Those terms are missing from the existing strain gradient beam theories. Those terms increase highly the stiffness of the thin beam. The buckling problem of the thin beams is also discussed.     

Buckling Analysis of Axially Functionally Graded and Non-Uniform Beams Based on Timoshenko Theory

In this paper,the buckling behaviors of axially functionally graded and non-uniform Timoshenko beams were investigated.Based on the auxiliary function and power series,the coupled governing equations were converted into a system of linear algebraic equations.With various end conditions,the characteristic polynomial equations in the buckling loads were obtained for axially inhomogeneous beams.The lower and higher-order eigenvalues were calculated simultaneously from the multi-roots due to the fact that the derived characteristic equation was a polynomial one.The computed results were in good agreement with those analytical and numerical ones in literature.     

Buckling analysis of cylindrical thin-shells using strain gradient elasticity theory

The stability problem of cylindrical shells is addressed using higher-order continuum theories in a generalized framework. The length-scale effect which becomes prominent at microscale can be included in the continuum theory using gradient-based nonlocal theories such as the strain gradient elasticity theories. In this work, expressions for critical buckling stress under uniaxial compression are derived using an energy approach. The results are compared with the classical continuum theory, which can be obtained by setting the length-scale parameters to zero. A special case is obtained by setting two length scale parameters to zero. Thus, it is shown that both the couple stress theory and classical continuum theory forms a special case of the strain gradient theory. The effect of various parameters such as the shell-radius, shell-length, and length-scale parameters on the buckling stress are investigated. The dimensions and constants corresponding to that of a carbon nanotube, where the length-scale effect becomes prominent, is considered for this investigation.     

Explicit frequency equations of free vibration of a nonlocal Timoshenko beam with surface effects

Considerations of nonlocal elasticity and surface effects in micro-and nanoscale beams are both important for the accurate prediction of natural frequency. In this study, the governing equation of a nonlocal Timoshenko beam with surface effects is established by taking into account three types of boundary conditions: hinged–hinged, clamped–clamped and clamped–hinged ends. For a hinged–hinged beam, an exact and explicit natural frequency equation is obtained. However, for clamped–clamped and clamped–hinged beams, the solutions of corresponding frequency equations must be determined numerically due to their transcendental nature. Hence, the Fredholm integral equation approach coupled with a curve fitting method is employed to derive the approximate fundamental frequency equations, which can predict the frequency values with high accuracy. In short,explicit frequency equations of the Timoshenko beam for three types of boundary conditions are proposed to exhibit directly the dependence of the natural frequency on the nonlocal elasticity, surface elasticity, residual surface stress, shear deformation and rotatory inertia, avoiding the complicated numerical computation.     

Analysis of micro-sized beams for various boundary conditions based on the strain gradient elasticity theory

Bending analysis of micro-sized beams based on the Bernoulli-Euler beam theory is presented within the modified strain gradient elasticity and modified couple stress theories. The governing equations and the related boundary conditions are derived from the variational principles. These equations are solved analytically for deflection, bending, and rotation responses of micro-sized beams. Propped cantilever, both ends clamped, both ends simply supported, and cantilever cases are taken into consideration as boundary conditions. The influence of size effect and additional material parameters on the static response of micro-sized beams in bending is examined. The effect of Poisson’s ratio is also investigated in detail. It is concluded from the results that the bending values obtained by these higher-order elasticity theories have a significant difference with those calculated by the classical elasticity theory.