Nonlocal modeling of a Carbon Nanotube actuated by an electrostatic force

¹ Mechanical Eng. Dep., King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, P.O. Box 31261, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
² Applied Mechanics and Systems Research Lab., Tunisia Polytechnic School, University of Carthage, La Marsa, Tunisia
³ Mechanical Eng. Program, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Eng. Building, P.O. Box 23874, Education City, Doha, Qatar.

^a e-mail: houakad@kfupm.edu.sa

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are promising mechanical structures at the nano-scale which have attracted increasing attention due to their amazing mechanical, chemical, thermal, and electrical properties. To take into account size dependence of such small sized structures, the use of nonlocal continuum theory is proposed where intrinsic length scales is taken into account. Based on the Eringen theory, a nonlinear nonlocal model of a clamped-clamped CNT is developed in this study. Static and free vibration responses are simulated and analyzed. The main objective of this work is to study the influence of CNT size and length scale parameter on the static and free vibration response to better understand their effect on the general behavior of the CNT. It has been found that the nonlocal effect can largely influence the performance of the CNT and change qualitatively its nonlinear response.