Application of Nonlocal Elasticity Shell Model for Axial Buckling of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Recently, nano devices have been developed which use Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) as structural elements. To define the range of applicability of CNTs in such devices, it is important to investigate failure modes such as the axial buckling limit. Classical continuum models are inaccurate as they are unable to account for the size-effects in such devices. In this work, a modified nonlocal continuum shell model for the axial buckling of CNTs is proposed and compared with a nonlocal model for torsional buckling. This is done through modifying classical continuum models by incorporating basic concepts from nonlocal elasticity. Furthermore, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are performed on a range of nanotubes with different diameters. Compared to classical models, the modified nonlocal models provide a much better fit to MD simulation results. Using MD simulation results for axial buckling, values of the nonlocal constant and shell thickness are calculated.

Keywords

• Carbon nanotube
• Buckling
• Nonlocal elasticity
• Shell
• Molecular dynamics