Pull-In Instability of Functionally Graded Cantilever Nanoactuators Incorporating Effects of Microstructure, Surface Energy and Intermolecular Forces

Abstract

In this paper, an integrated non-classical continuum model is developed to investigate the pull-in instability of electrostatically actuated functionally graded nanocantilevers. The model accounts for the simultaneous effects of local-microstructure, surface elasticity and surface residual in the presence of fringing field as well as Casimir and van der Waals forces. The modified couple stress and Gurtin–Murdoch surface elasticity theories are employed to conduct the scaling effects of microstructure and surface energy, respectively, in the context of Euler–Bernoulli beam hypothesis. Bulk and surface material properties are varied according to the power-law distribution through the beam thickness. The physical neutral axis position for mentioned FG nanobeams is considered. Hamilton principle is employed to derive the nonlinear size-dependent governing equations and the non-classical boundary conditions. The resulting nonlinear differential equations are solved utilizing the generalized differential quadrature method (GDQM). In addition, the non-classical boundary conditions of nanocantilever beams due to surface residual stress are exactly implemented. After validation of the obtained results by previously available data in the literature, the influences of different geometrical and material parameters on the pull-in instability of the FG nanocantilevers are examined in detail. It is concluded that the pull-in behavior of electrically actuated FG micro/nanocantilevers is significantly influenced by the material distribution, material length scale parameter, surface elasticity constant, surface residual stress, initial gap, slenderness ratio, Casimir, and van der Waals forces. The obtained results can be considered for modeling and analysis of electrically actuated FG nanocantilevers.