Dynamical parametric instability of carbon nanotubes under axial harmonic excitation by nonlocal continuum theory

Structures under parametric load can be induced to the parametric instability in which the excitation frequency is located the instability region. In the present work, the parametric instability of double-walled carbon nanotubes is studied. The axial harmonic excitation is considered and the nonlocal continuum theory is applied. The critical equation is derived as the Mathieu form by the Galerkin's theory and the instability condition is presented with the Bolotin's method. Numerical calculations are performed and it can be seen that the van der Waals interaction can enhance the stability of double-walled nanotubes under the parametric excitation. The parametric instability becomes more obvious with the matrix stiffness decreasing and small scale coefficient increasing. The parametric instability is going to be more significant for higher mode numbers. For the nanosystem with the soft matrix and higher mode number, the small scale coefficient and the ratio of the length to the diameter have obvious influences on the starting point of the instability region.     

Scale effects on thermal buckling properties of carbon nanotube

In this Letter, the thermal buckling properties of carbon nanotube with small scale effects are studied. Based on the nonlocal continuum theory and the Timoshenko beam model, the governing equation is derived and the nondimensional critical buckling temperature is presented. The influences of the scale coefficients, the ratio of the length to the diameter, the transverse shear deformation and rotary inertia are discussed. It can be observed that the small scale effects are significant and should be considered for thermal analysis of carbon nanotube. The nondimensional critical buckling temperature becomes higher with the ratio of length to diameter increasing. Furthermore, for smaller ratios of the length to the diameter and higher mode numbers, the transverse shear deformation and rotary inertia have remarkable influences on the thermal buckling behaviors.     

Assessment of nanotube structures under a moving nanoparticle using nonlocal beam theories

Dynamic analysis of nanotube structures under excitation of a moving nanoparticle is carried out using nonlocal continuum theory of Eringen. To this end, the nanotube structure is modeled by an equivalent continuum structure (ECS) according to the nonlocal Euler-Bernoulli, Timoshenko and higher order beam theories. The nondimensional equations of motion of the nonlocal beams acted upon by a moving nanoparticle are then established. Analytical solutions of the problem are presented for simply supported boundary conditions. The explicit expressions of the critical velocities of the nonlocal beams are derived. Furthermore, the capabilities of various nonlocal beam models in predicting the dynamic deflection of the ECS are examined through various numerical simulations. The role of the scale effect parameter, the slenderness ratio of the ECS and velocity of the moving nanoparticle on the time history of deflection as well as the dynamic amplitude factor of the nonlocal beams are scrutinized in some detail. The results show the importance of using nonlocal shear deformable beam theories, particularly for very stocky nanotube structures acted upon by a moving nanoparticle with low velocity.     

Dispersion of dilatation wave propagation in single-wall carbon nanotubes using nonlocal scale effects

Nonlocal continuum mechanics allows one to account for the small length scale effect that becomes significant when dealing with micro- or nano-structures. This paper investigates a model of wave propagation in single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with small scale effects are studied. The equation of motion of the dilatation wave is obtained using the nonlocal elastic theory. We show that a dispersive wave equation is obtained from a nonlocal elastic constitutive law, based on a mixture of a local and a nonlocal strain. The SWCNTs structures are treated within the multilayer thin shell approximation with the elastic properties taken to be those of the graphene sheet. The SWCNT was the (40,0) zigzag tube with an effective diameter of 3.13 nm. Nonlinear frequency equations of wave propagation in SWCNTs are described through the effect of small scale. The phase velocity and the group velocity are derived, respectively. The nonlinear dispersion relation is analyzed with different wave numbers versus scale coefficient. It can be observed from the results that the dispersion properties of the dilatation wave are induced by the small scale effects, which will disappear in local continuous models. The dispersion degree can be strengthened by increasing the scale coefficient and the wave number. Furthermore, the characteristics for the group velocity of the dilatation wave in carbon nanotubes can also be tuned by these factors.     

Geometrical influence of a deposited particle on the performance of bridged carbon nanotube-based mass detectors

A nonlocal continuum-based model is derived to simulate the dynamic behavior of bridged carbon nanotube-based nano-scale mass detectors. The carbon nanotube (CNT) is modeled as an elastic Euler-Bernoulli beam considering von-Kármán type geometric nonlinearity. In order to achieve better accuracy in characterization of the CNTs, the geometrical properties of an attached nano-scale particle are introduced into the model by its moment of inertia with respect to the central axis of the beam. The inter-atomic long-range interactions within the structure of the CNT are incorporated into the model using Eringen's nonlocal elastic field theory. In this model, the mass can be deposited along an arbitrary length of the CNT. After deriving the full nonlinear equations of motion, the natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes are extracted based on a linear eigenvalue problem analysis. The results show that the geometry of the attached particle has a significant impact on the dynamic behavior of the CNT-based mechanical resonator, especially, for those with small aspect ratios. The developed model and analysis are beneficial for nano-scale mass identification when a CNT-based mechanical resonator is utilized as a small-scale bio-mass sensor and the deposited particles are those, such as proteins, enzymes, cancer cells, DNA and other nano-scale biological objects with different and complex shapes.     

The effect of calibrated nonlocal constant on the modal parameters and stability of axially compressed CNTs

Nowadays investigating the vibration behavior of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has drawn considerable attention due to the superior mechanical properties of the CNTs. One of the powerful theoretical methods to study the vibration behavior of CNTs is implementing the nonlocal theory. Most of studies on the vibration behavior of CNTs have assumed a fixed value for small scale parameter for all vibration modes, however, this value is mode-dependent. Therefore, in this paper, the small scale parameter is calibrated for a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) with respect to each vibration mode. For this propose, the governing equation of motion based on the nonlocal beam theory is extracted by applying the Hamilton's principle. Then, by using the power series method, an eigenvalue problem is defined to derive the calibrated value of small scale constant and nonlocal mode shapes of the CNT. By using the expansion theory, the equation of motion is discretized, and the effect of nonlocality on the modal parameters and stability of the CNT under compressive force is investigated. Finally, the possibility of estimating nonlocal parameter based on simulated frequency domain response of the system by using modal analysis methods is studied. The results show that the calibration of small scale constant is important and the critical axial force is highly sensitive to this value.     

基于非局部弹性理论的单壁碳纳米管轴向受压屈曲研究

基于非局部弹性理论，在考虑小尺度效应影响的情况下，建立了单壁碳纳米管在均匀轴向外 部压力下的壳体模型. 得到了单壁碳纳米管的轴向受压屈曲的临界条件，验证了小尺度效应 对纳米管轴向受压屈曲的影响. 经典的壳体模型理论由于没有考虑小尺度效应影响而导致碳 纳米管轴向屈曲临界压力值偏高. 关键词： 非局部弹性理论 碳钠米管 小尺度效应 轴向受压     

Effect of small length scale on elastic buckling of multi-walled carbon nanotubes under radial pressure

A nonlocal multiple-shell model is developed for the elastic buckling of multi-walled carbon nanotubes under uniform external radial pressure on the basis of theory of nonlocal elasticity. The effect of small length scale is incorporated in the formulation. An explicit expression is derived for the critical buckling pressure for a double-walled carbon nanotube. The influence of the small length scale on the buckling pressure is examined. It is concluded that the critical buckling pressure for a carbon nanotube could be overestimated by the classic (local) shell model due to ignoring the effect of small length scale.     

Nonlinear free vibration of a microscale beam based on modified couple stress theory

This paper presents a nonlinear free vibration analysis of the microbeams based on the modified couple stress Euler–Bernoulli beam theory and von Kármán geometrically nonlinear theory. The governing differential equations are established in variational form from Hamilton principle, with a material length scale parameter to interpret the size effect. These partial differential equations are reduced to corresponding ordinary ones by eliminating the time variable with the Kantorovich method following an assumed harmonic time mode. The resulting equations, which form a nonlinear two-point boundary value problem in spatial variable, are then solved numerically by shooting method, and the size-dependent characteristic relations of nonlinear vibration frequency vs. central amplitude of the microbeams are obtained successfully. The comparisons with available published results show that the current approach and algorithm are of good practicability. A parametric study is conducted involving the dependency of the frequency on the length scale parameter along with Poisson ratio, which shows that the nonlinear vibration frequency predicted by the current model is higher than that by the classical one.     

Longitudinal waves in carbon nanotubes in the presence of transverse magnetic field and elastic medium

In the present paper, the coupling effect of transverse magnetic field and elastic medium on the longitudinal wave propagation along a carbon nanotube (CNT) is studied. Based on the nonlocal elasticity theory and Hamilton's principle, a unified nonlocal rod theory which takes into account the effects of small size scale, lateral inertia and radial deformation is proposed. The existing rod theories including the classic rod theory, the Rayleigh-Love theory and Rayleigh-Bishop theory for macro solids can be treated as the special cases of the present model. A two-parameter foundation model (Pasternak-type model) is used to represent the elastic medium. The influence of transverse magnetic field, Pasternak-type elastic medium and small size scale on the longitudinal wave propagation behavior of the CNT is investigated in detail. It is shown that the influences of lateral inertia and radial deformation cannot be neglected in analyzing the longitudinal wave propagation characteristics of the CNT. The results also show that the elastic medium and the transverse magnetic field will also affect the longitudinal wave dispersion behavior of the CNT significantly. The results obtained in this paper are helpful for understanding the mechanical behaviors of nanostructures embedded in an elastic medium.     

Nonlocal elasticity theory for thermal buckling of nanoplates lying on Winkler–Pasternak elastic substrate medium

In the present work, thermal buckling of single-layered graphene sheets lying on an elastic medium is analyzed. For this purpose, the sinusoidal shear deformation plate theory in tandem with the nonlocal continuum theory, which takes the small scale effects into account, is employed. The non-linear stability equations, which contain the reaction of Winkler–Pasternak elastic substrate medium, are derived and then solved analytically for a plate with various boundary conditions and based on various plate theories. Closed form solutions are formulated for three types of thermal loadings as uniform, linear and nonlinear temperature rise through the thickness of the plate. A number of examples are presented to illustrate the numerical results concerned with the buckling temperature response of nanoplates resting on two-parameter elastic foundations. The influences played by transversal shear deformation, plate aspect ratio, side-to-thickness ratio, nonlocal parameter, and elastic foundation parameters are all investigated.     

Finite element analysis of nano-scale Timoshenko beams using the integral model of nonlocal elasticity

Stress-strain relation in Eringen's nonlocal elasticity theory was originally formulated within the framework of an integral model. Due to difficulty of working with that integral model, the differential model of nonlocal constitutive equation is widely used for nanostructures. However, paradoxical results may be obtained by the differential model for some boundary and loading conditions. Presented in this article is a finite element analysis of Timoshenko nano-beams based on the integral model of nonlocal continuum theory without employing any simplification in the model. The entire procedure of deriving equations of motion is carried out in the matrix form of representation, and hence, they can be easily used in the finite element analysis. For comparison purpose, the differential counterparts of equations are also derived. To study the outcome of analysis based on the integral and differential models, some case studies are presented in which the influences of boundary conditions, nonlocal length scale parameter and loading factor are analyzed. It is concluded that, in contrast to the differential model, there is no paradox in the numerical results of developed integral model of nonlocal continuum theory for different situations of problem characteristics. So, resolving the mentioned paradoxes by means of a purely numerical approach based on the original integral form of nonlocal elasticity theory is the major contribution of present study.     

Modeling and active vibration suppression of a single-walled carbon nanotube subjected to a moving harmonic load based on a nonlocal elasticity theory

This paper investigates active vibration suppression of a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) under the action of a moving harmonic load using Eringen’s nonlocal elasticity theory. The SWCNT is modeled according to the nonlocal Euler–Bernoulli beam theory. A Dirac-delta function is used to describe the position of the moving load along the SWCNT. Next, a linear classical optimal control algorithm with displacement-velocity feedback is used to suppress vibration in the SWCNT with control forces acting as actuators. The effects of a small-scale parameter, slenderness ratio, moving load velocity, and the excitation frequency of a moving load on the dynamic deflection of the SWCNT are examined. Finally, the ability of the control algorithm to suppress the response of the SWCNT under the effects of a moving load with a number of controlled modes and control forces is surveyed.     

Longitudinal vibration and instabilities of carbon nanotubes conveying fluid considering size effects of nanoflow and nanostructure

In this study, the effects of small-scale of the both nanoflow and nanostructure on the vibrational response of fluid flowing single-walled carbon nanotubes are investigated. To this purpose, two various flowing fluids, the air-nano-flow and the water nano-flow using Knudsen number, and two different continuum theories, the nonlocal theory and the strain-inertia gradient theory are studied. Nano-rod model is used to model the fluid-structure interaction, and Galerkin method of weighted residual is utilizing to solve and discretize the governing obtained equations. It is found that the critical flow velocity decreases as the wave number increases, excluding the first mode divergence that it has the least value among of the other instabilities if the strain-inertia gradient theory is employed. Moreover, it is observed that Kn effect has considerable impact on the reduction of critical velocities especially for the air-flow flowing through the CNT. In addition, by increasing a nonlocal parameter and Knudsen number the critical flow velocity decreases but it increases as the characteristic length related to the strain-inertia gradient theory increases.     

Chaos and chaotic control in a relative rotation nonlinear dynamical system under parametric excitation

This paper studies the chaotic behaviours of a relative rotation nonlinear dynamical system under parametric excitation and its control. The dynamical equation of relative rotation nonlinear dynamical system under parametric excitation is deduced by using the dissipation Lagrange equation. The criterion of existence of chaos under parametric excitation is given by using the Melnikov theory. The chaotic behaviours are detected by numerical simulations including bifurcation diagrams, Poincar map and maximal Lyapunov exponent. Furthermore, it implements chaotic control using non-feedback method. It obtains the parameter condition of chaotic control by the Melnikov theory. Numerical simulation results show the consistence with the theoretical analysis. The chaotic motions can be controlled to period-motions by adding an excitation term.     

Prediction of compressive post-buckling behavior of single-walled carbon nanotubes in thermal environments

In the present investigation, the axial buckling and post-buckling configurations of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are studied including the thermal environment effect. For this purpose, Eringen’s nonlocal elasticity continuum theory is implemented into the classical Euler–Bernoulli beam theory to represent the SWCNTs as a nonlocal elastic beam model. A closed-form analytical solution is carried out to analyze the static response of SWCNTs in their post-buckling state in which the axial buckling load is assumed to be beyond the critical axial buckling load. Common sets of boundary conditions, named simply supported–simply supported (SS–SS), clamped–clamped (C–C), and clamped–simply supported (C–SS), are considered in the investigation. Selected numerical results are given to represent the variation of the carbon nanotube’s mid-span deflection with the applied axial load corresponding to various nonlocal parameters, length-to-diameter aspect ratios, temperature changes, and end supports. Moreover, a comparison between the post-buckling behaviors of SWCNTs at low- and high-temperature environments is presented. It is found that the size effect leads to a decrease of the axial buckling load especially for SWCNTs with C–C boundary conditions. Also, it is revealed that the value of the temperature change plays different roles in the post-buckling response of SWCNTs at low- and high-temperature environments.     

Wave propagation in double walled carbon nanotubes by using doublet mechanics theory

Flexural and axial wave propagation in double walled carbon nanotubes embedded in an elastic medium and axial wave propagation in single walled carbon nanotubes are investigated. A length scale dependent theory which is called doublet mechanics is used in the analysis. Governing equations are obtained by using Hamilton principle. Doublet mechanics results are compared with classical elasticity and other size dependent continuum theories such as strain gradient theory, nonlocal theory and lattice dynamics. In addition, experimental wave frequencies of graphite are compared with the doublet mechanics theory. It is obtained that doublet mechanics gives accurate results for flexural and axial wave propagation in nanotubes. Thus, doublet mechanics can be used for the design of electro-mechanical nano-devices such as nanomotors, nanosensors and oscillators.     

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.     

Nonlocal shear deformable shell model for thermal postbuckling of axially compressed double-walled carbon nanotubes

An investigation is reported of the thermal buckling and postbuckling of axially compressed double-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) subjected to a uniform temperature rise. The double-walled carbon nanotube is modeled as a nonlocal shear deformable cylindrical shell, which contains small-scale effects and van der Waals interaction forces. The governing equations are based on higher order shear deformation shell theory with a von Kármán–Donnell-type of kinematic nonlinearity and include thermal effects. Temperature-dependent material properties, which come from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and an initial point defect, which is simulated as a dimple on the tube wall, are both taken into account. The small-scale parameter, e ₀ a, is estimated by matching the buckling temperature of CNTs observed from the MD simulation results with the numerical results obtained from the nonlocal shear deformable shell model. The numerical illustrations concern the thermal postbuckling response of perfect and imperfect, single- and double-walled CNTs with different values of compressive load ratio. The results show that buckling temperature and postbuckling behavior of nanotubes are very sensitive to the small-scale parameter. The results reveal that temperature-dependent material properties have a significant effect on the thermal postbuckling behavior of both single- and double-walled CNTs.     

Nonlinear size-dependent behaviour of single-walled carbon nanotubes

This paper examines the nonlinear size-dependent behaviour of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) based on the von-Karman nonlinearity and the nonlocal elasticity theory capable of predicting size effects. To this end, based on Hamilton’s principle in the framework of the nonlocal Euler–Bernoulli beam theory, the equation of motion and associated boundary conditions are derived. Then, with the aid of a high-dimensional Galerkin scheme, the nonlinear partial differential equation of motion of the SWCNT is recast into a reduced-order model. The dynamic response of the system is then investigated for two different types of excitation, namely primary and superharmonic excitations. Eventually, the effect of the slenderness ratio, forcing amplitude, and excitation frequency on the motion characteristics of the system is investigated.