Combined Torsional Buckling of Carbon Nanotubes Subjected to Thermo-Electro-Mechanical Loadings with Consideration of Scale Effect

Abstract

The present study has theoretically investigated the combined torsional buckling behavior of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with consideration of scale effect in the multi-field coupling condition. The generalized governing equation of buckling for CNTs subjected to thermo-electro-mechanical loadings has been established based on an elastic shell model of continuum mechanics, in which scale effect is taken account of through the nonlocal elasticity theory. Except the applied torque and torsion-related axial load, the Van der Waals forces between adjacent nanotubes, as well as effects of temperature change and voltage load, is taken into consideration at the meantime. Numerical experiments are conducted to demonstrate the influences of different factors. The conclusions provided herein will be helpful and valuable for the dependent designs and related applications of CNT-based nano-structures serving in the complex thermal and electrical environment.