Free vibration analysis of a piezoelectric nanobeam using nonlocal elasticity theory

Abstract

Piezoelectric nanobeams are used in several nano electromechanical systems. The first step in designing these systems is conducting a vibration analysis. In this research, the free vibration of a piezoelectric nanobeam is analyzed by using the nonlocal elasticity theory. The nanobeam is modeled based on Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. Hamilton's principle is used to derive the equations of motion and also the boundary conditions of the system. The obtained equations of motion are solved by using both Galerkin and the Differential Quadrature (DQ) methods. The clamped-clamped and cantilever boundary conditions are analyzed and the effects of the applied voltage and nonlocal parameter on the natural frequencies and mode shapes are studied. The results show the success of Galerkin method in determining the natural frequencies. The results also show the influence of the nonlocal parameter on the natural frequencies. Increasing a positive voltage decreases the natural frequencies, while increasing a negative voltage increases them. It is also concluded that for the clamped parts of the beam and also other parts that encounter higher values of stress during free vibrations of the beam, anti-nodes in voltage mode shapes are observed. On the contrary, in the parts of the beam that the values of the induced stress are low, the values of the amplitude of the voltage mode shape are not significant. The obtained results and especially the mode shapes can be used in future studies on the forced vibrations of piezoelectric nanobeams based on Galerkin method.