Thermomechanical bending and free vibration of single-layered graphene sheets embedded in an elastic medium

In the present paper, the sinusoidal shear deformation plate theory (SDPT) is reformulated using the nonlocal differential constitutive relations of Eringen to analyze the bending and vibration of the nanoplates, such as single-layered graphene sheets, resting on two-parameter elastic foundations. The present SDPT is compared with other plate theories. The nanoplates are assumed to be subjected to mechanical and thermal loads. The equations of motion of the nonlocal model are derived including the plate foundation interaction and thermal effects. The governing equations are solved analytically for various boundary conditions. Nonlocal theory is employed to bring out the effect of the nonlocal parameter on the bending and natural frequencies of the nanoplates. The influences of nonlocal parameter, side-to-thickness ratio and elastic foundation moduli on the displacements and vibration frequencies are investigated.     

Nonlocal plate model for nonlinear bending of single-layer graphene sheets subjected to transverse loads in thermal environments

This paper investigates the nonlinear bending behavior of a single-layer rectangular graphene sheet subjected to a transverse uniform load in thermal environments. The single-layer graphene sheet (SLGS) is modeled as a nonlocal orthotropic plate which contains small scale effect. Geometric nonlinearity in the von Kármán sense is adopted. The thermal effects are included and the material properties are assumed to be size dependent and temperature dependent, and are obtained from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The small scale parameter e ₀ a is estimated by matching the deflections of graphene sheets observed from the MD simulation results with the numerical results obtained from the nonlocal plate model. The numerical results show that the temperature change as well as the aspect ratio has a significant effect on the nonlinear bending behavior of SLGSs. The results reveal that the small scale parameter reduces the static large deflections of SLGSs, and the small scale effect also plays an important role in the nonlinear bending of SLGSs.     

Vibration analysis of defective graphene sheets using nonlocal elasticity theory

Many papers have studied the free vibration of graphene sheets. However, all this papers assumed their atomic structure free of any defects. Nonetheless, they actually contain some defects including single vacancy, double vacancy and Stone-Wales defects. This paper, therefore, investigates the free vibration of defective graphene sheets, rather than pristine graphene sheets, via nonlocal elasticity theory. Governing equations are derived using nonlocal elasticity and the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT). The influence of structural defects on the vibration of graphene sheets is considered by applying the mechanical properties of defective graphene sheets. Afterwards, these equations solved using generalized differential quadrature method (GDQ). The small-scale effect is applied in the governing equations of motion by nonlocal parameter. The effects of different defect types are inspected for graphene sheets with clamped or simply-supported boundary conditions on all sides. It is shown that the natural frequencies of graphene sheets decrease by introducing defects to the atomic structure. Furthermore, it is found that the number of missing atoms, shapes and distributions of structural defects play a significant role in the vibrational behavior of graphene. The effect of vacancy defect reconstruction is also discussed in this paper.     

A nonlocal plate model incorporating interatomic potentials for vibrations of graphene with arbitrary edge conditions

This article presents analytical explicit frequency expressions for investigating the vibrations of single-layer graphene sheets (SLGSs). The interatomic potential is incorporated into a nonlocal continuum plate model through establishing a linkage between the strain energy density induced in the continuum and nonlocal plate constitutive relations. The model which is independent of scattered value of Young's modulus is then applied and explicit frequency formulas for the SLGSs with different edge conditions are derived using static deflection function of the nanoplate under uniformly distributed load. The reliability of the present formulation is verified by the results obtained by the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and other research workers. The formulas are of a simple short form enabling quick and accurate evaluation of the frequency of the SLGSs and also simple calibration of scale coefficient by the use of MD simulations results.     

Atomistic finite element model for axial buckling and vibration analysis of single-layered graphene sheets

In this article, an atomistic model is developed to study the buckling and vibration characteristics of single-layered graphene sheets (SLGSs). By treating SLGSs as space-frame structures, in which the discrete nature of graphene sheets is preserved, they are modeled using three-dimensional elastic beam elements for the bonds. The elastic moduli of the beam elements are determined via a linkage between molecular mechanics and structural mechanics. Based on this model, the critical compressive forces and fundamental natural frequencies of single-layered graphene sheets with different boundary conditions and geometries are obtained and then compared. It is indicated that the compressive buckling force decreases when the graphene sheet aspect ratio increases. At low aspect ratios, the increase of aspect ratios will result in a significant decrease in the critical buckling load. It is also indicated that increasing aspect ratio at a given side length results in the convergence of buckling envelops associated with armchair and zigzag graphene sheets. The influence of boundary conditions will be studied for different geometries. It will be shown that the influence of boundary conditions is not significant for sufficiently large SLGSs.     

Buckling analysis of variable thickness nanoplates using nonlocal continuum mechanics

This paper presents an investigation on the buckling characteristics of nanoscale rectangular plates under bi-axial compression considering non-uniformity in the thickness. Based on the nonlocal continuum mechanics, governing differential equations are derived. Numerical solutions for the buckling loads are obtained using the Galerkin method. The present study shows that the buckling behaviors of single-layered graphene sheets (SLGSs) are strongly sensitive to the nonlocal and non-uniform parameters. The influence of percentage change of thickness on the stability of SLGSs is more significant in the strip-type nonoplates (nanoribbons) than in the square-type nanoplates.     

Nonlocal vibration of coupled DLGS systems embedded on Visco-Pasternak foundation

In this paper, vibration analysis of the coupled system of double-layered graphene sheets (CS-DLGSs) embedded in a Visco-Pasternak foundation is carried out using the nonlocal elasticity theory of orthotropic plate. The two DLGSs are coupled by an enclosing viscoelastic medium which is simulated as a Visco-Pasternak foundation. Considering the Von Kármán nonlinear strain-displacement-relations, the motion equations are derived using the Hamilton's principle. Differential quadrature method (DQM) is applied to obtain the frequency ratio for various boundary conditions. The detailed parametric study is conducted, focusing on the combined effects of the nonlocal parameter, aspect ratio, graphene sheet's size, boundary conditions and the elastic and viscoelastic medium coefficients on the frequency ratio of CS-DLGSs. In this coupled system, two case of DLGSs vibration are investigated and compared with each other: (1) In-phase vibration (2) Out-of-phase vibration. The results indicate that the frequency ratio of the CS-DLGSs is more than the single-layered graphene sheet (SLGS). The results are in good agreement with the previous researches.     

Exact analytical solution for free vibration of functionally graded micro/nanoplates via three-dimensional nonlocal elasticity

Using three-dimensional (3-D) nonlocal elasticity theory of Eringen, this paper presents closed-form solutions for in-plane and out-of-plane free vibration of simply supported functionally graded (FG) rectangular micro/nanoplates. Elasticity modulus and mass density of FG material are assumed to vary exponentially through the thickness of micro/nanoplate, whereas Poisson's ratio is considered to be constant. By employing appropriate displacement fields for the in-plane and out-of-plane modes that satisfy boundary conditions of the plate, ordinary differential equations of free vibration are obtained. Boundary conditions on the lateral surfaces are imposed on the analytical solutions of the equations to yield the natural frequencies of FG micro/nanoplate. The natural frequencies of FG micro/nanoplate are obtained for different values of nonlocal parameter and gradient index of material properties. The results of this investigation can be used as a benchmark for the future numerical, semi-analytical and analytical studies on the free vibration of FG micro/nanoplates.     

Free vibration analysis of multi-layer graphene nanoribbons incorporating interlayer shear effect via molecular dynamics simulations and nonlocal elasticity

Free vibration of cantilever multi-layer graphene nanoribbons (MLGNRs) with interlayer shear effect is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations (MD) and nonlocal elasticity. Because of similarity of MLGNRs to sandwich structures, sandwich formulations are expressed in the nonlocal form. By comparing the first two frequencies of MLGNRs with various layers and lengths obtained using MD simulations with those of the nonlocal sandwich formulation; the nonlocal parameter is calibrated to match the results of two methods. The results reveal that the calibrated nonlocal parameter for predicting the second frequencies is dependent on the number of MLGNR layers, and it increases by increasing the number of layers.     

Nonlocal vibration analysis of nanomechanical systems resonators using circular double-layer graphene sheets

Double-layer graphene sheets (DLGSs) have potential applications as nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) resonators due to their specific carrier spectrum of electrons. In this study, analysis of the vibration modes of NEMS resonators using simply supported circular DLGSs has been undertaken based on nonlocal thin plate theory. Considering the properties of DLGSs, the vibration mode of circular DLGSs can be divided into an in-phase mode (IPM) and an anti-phase mode (APM). The range of resonance frequencies in the IPM is much larger than in the APM because of the influence of van der Waals forces. Nonlocal effects significantly influence the resonance frequency of circular DLGSs in higher vibration modes and at lower aspect ratios.     

A modified nonlocal beam model for vibration and stability of nanotubes conveying fluid

In this paper, a new, modified nonlocal beam model is developed for analyzing the vibration and stability of nanotubes conveying fluid, in which one single nonlocal nanoscale parameter is included. Using Hamilton’s principle, a new higher-order differential equation of motion and the corresponding higher-order, non-classical boundary conditions are obtained for nanotubes conveying fluid. Based on this modified nonlocal model, effect of nonlocal nanoscale parameter on natural frequencies and critical flow velocities is presented and discussed through numerical calculations. It is found that this factor has great influence on the vibration and stability of nanotubes conveying fluid. In particular, the nonlocal effect tends to induce higher natural frequencies and higher critical flow velocities as compared to the results obtained from the classical and partial nonlocal beam models.     

An exact frequency analysis of annular plates with small core having elastically restrained outer edge and sliding inner edge

The present study deals with an exact analysis of free transverse vibrations of annular plates having small core and sliding inner edge and the outer edge being elastically restrained based on classical plate theory. This study focuses mainly on the influence of variations in the elastic restraint parameters on the fundamental frequencies of plate vibration. The natural frequencies for the first six modes of annular plate vibrations are computed for different materials and varying values of the radius parameter and these natural frequencies may correspond to either axisymmetric and/or non-axisymmetric modes of plate vibration. The extensive data of values of fundamental frequency parameter presented in this paper is believed to be of use in the design of acoustic underwater transducers, ocean and naval structures, compressor and pump elements, offshore platforms. These results may serve as bench mark values for researchers to validate their results obtained using approximate numerical methods.     

Vibration and instability analysis of tubular nano- and micro-beams conveying fluid using nonlocal elastic theory

A nonlocal Euler–Bernoulli elastic beam model is developed for the vibration and instability of tubular micro- and nano-beams conveying fluid using the theory of nonlocal elasticity. Based on the Newtonian method, the equation of motion is derived, in which the effect of small length scale is incorporated. With this nonlocal beam model, the natural frequencies and critical flow velocities for the case of simply supported system and for the case of cantilevered system are obtained. The effect of small length scale (i.e., the nonlocal parameter) on the properties of vibrations is discussed. It is demonstrated that the natural frequencies are generally decreased with increasing values of nonlocal parameter, both for the supported and cantilevered systems. More significantly, the effect of small length scale on the critical flow velocities is visible for fluid-conveying beams with nano-scale length; however, this effect may be neglected for micro-beams conveying fluid.     

Buckling of single layer graphene sheet based on nonlocal elasticity and higher order shear deformation theory

Higher order shear deformation theory (HSDT) is reformulated using the nonlocal differential constitutive relations of Eringen. The equations of motion of the nonlocal theories are derived. The developed equations of motion have been applied to study buckling characteristics of nanoplates such as graphene sheets. Navier's approach has been used to solve the governing equations for all edges simply supported boundary conditions. Analytical solutions for critical buckling loads of the graphene sheets are presented. Nonlocal elasticity theories are employed to bring out the small scale effect on the critical buckling load of graphene sheets. Effects of (i) nonlocal parameter, (ii) length, (iii) thickness of the graphene sheets and (iv) higher order shear deformation theory on the critical buckling load have been investigated. The theoretical development as well as numerical solutions presented herein should serve as reference for nonlocal theories as applied to the stability analysis of nanoplates and nanoshells.     

Small scale effect on vibration of embedded multilayered graphene sheets based on nonlocal continuum models

In the present work, vibration analysis of multilayered graphene sheets embedded in polymer matrix has been carried out employing nonlocal continuum mechanics. Governing equations have been derived using the principle of virtual work. It has been shown that nonlocal effect is quite significant and needs to be included in the continuum model of graphene sheet.     

Vibration and instability analysis of tubular nano- and micro-beams conveying fluid using nonlocal elastic theory

A nonlocal Euler–Bernoulli elastic beam model is developed for the vibration and instability of tubular micro- and nano-beams conveying fluid using the theory of nonlocal elasticity. Based on the Newtonian method, the equation of motion is derived, in which the effect of small length scale is incorporated. With this nonlocal beam model, the natural frequencies and critical flow velocities for the case of simply supported system and for the case of cantilevered system are obtained. The effect of small length scale (i.e., the nonlocal parameter) on the properties of vibrations is discussed. It is demonstrated that the natural frequencies are generally decreased with increasing values of nonlocal parameter, both for the supported and cantilevered systems. More significantly, the effect of small length scale on the critical flow velocities is visible for fluid-conveying beams with nano-scale length; however, this effect may be neglected for micro-beams conveying fluid.     

Free vibration of size-dependent Mindlin microplates based on the modified couple stress theory

This paper develops a Mindlin microplate model based on the modified couple stress theory for the free vibration analysis of microplates. This non-classical plate model contains an internal material length scale parameter related to the material microstructures and is capable of interpreting the size effect that the classical Mindlin plate model is unable to describe. The higher-order governing equations of motion and boundary conditions are derived using the Hamilton principle. The p-version Ritz method is employed to determine the natural frequencies of the microplate with different boundary conditions. A detailed parametric study is conducted to study the influences of the length scale parameter, side-to-thickness ratio and aspect ratio on the free vibration characteristics of the microplate. It is found that the size effect is significant when the thickness of microplate is close to the material length scale parameter.     

Fracture analysis of monolayer graphene sheets with double vacancy defects via MD simulation

Carbon nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene sheets have attracted great attention due to their exceptionally high strength and elastic strain. These extraordinary mechanical properties, however, can be affected by the presence of defects in their structures. When a material contains multiple defects, it is expected that the stress concentration of them superposes if the separation distances of the defects are low, which causes a more reduction of the strength. On the other hand, it is believed that if the defects are far enough such that their affected areas are distinct, their behavior is similar to a material with single defect. In this article, molecular dynamics (MD) is used to explore the influence of separation distance of double vacancy defects on the mechanical properties of single-layered graphene sheets (SLGSs). To this end, critical stress and strain of SLGSs containing double vacancy with different distances are determined and the results are compared with those of perfect SLGSs and graphene sheets with single vacancy defect. The results reveal that the ultimate strength of the SLGS with double vacancy tends to the one with a single vacancy when the separation distance becomes further. In this regard, the threshold distance beyond which double defects behave like a single one is examined. Finally, Young’s modulus of perfect, single and double vacancy defected graphene sheets with different separation distances is determined. It is concluded that this property is slightly affected by the separation distance.     

Transverse Vibration of Tapered Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Embedded in Viscoelastic Medium

Based on the nonlocal theory, Euler-Bernoulli beam theory and Kelvin viscoelastic foundation model, free transverse vibration is studied for a tapered viscoelastic single-walled carbon nanotube (visco-SWCNT) embedded in a viscoelastic medium. Firstly, the governing equations for vibration analysis are established. And then, we derive the natural frequencies in closed form for SWCNTs with arbitrary boundary conditions by applying transfer function method and perturbation method. Numerical results are also presented to discuss the effects of nonlocal parameter, relaxation time and taper parameter of SWCNTs, and material property parameters of the medium. This study demonstrates that the proposed model is available for vibration analysis of the tapered SWCNTs-viscoelastic medium coupling system.     

Mechanical properties of defective single-layered graphene sheets via molecular dynamics simulation

In this paper, the effects of two main types of structural defects, i.e. Stone–Wales and single vacancy, on the mechanical properties of single-layered graphene sheets (SLGSs) are investigated. To this end, molecular dynamics simulations based on the Tersoff–Brenner potential function and Nose–Hoover thermostat technique are implemented. The results obtained have revealed that the presence of defects significantly reduces the failure strain and the intrinsic strength of SLGSs, while it has a slight effect on Young’s modulus. Furthermore, the examination of loading in both armchair and zigzag directions demonstrated that SLGSs are slightly stronger in the armchair direction and defects have lower effect in this direction. Considering the fracture mechanism, the failure process of defective and perfect graphene sheets is also presented.