Nonlocal Elastic Field Research Articles

Nonlinear performance analysis of forced carbon nanotube-based bio-mass sensors

In this effort, an analytical solution is proposed for the large amplitude nonlinear vibrations of doubly clamped carbon nanotube (CNT)-based nano-scale bio-mass sensors. The single walled CNT is modeled as an elastic Euler–Bernoulli nano-scale beam and the size effects are introduced into the mathematical model of the system through Eringen’s nonlocal elastic field theory. The nonlinearity arises due to mid-plane stretching of the bridged CNT, and is accounted for as the von Karman nonlinearity. The impacts of deposited nano-scale bio-object, its geometrical properties, and its landing position along the longitudinal axis of the CNT-based resonator are considered. The nonlinear equations of motion are derived based on Hamilton’s principle and then the Method of Multiple Scales is employed to derive an analytical approximate solution for the system’s response. To verify the analytical solution and show its limits of applicability, the equations of motion are discretized by multi-mode Galerkin’s method and then the obtained set of equations are numerically solved by Runge–Kutta method and compared with those obtained by analytical solution. The potential applications of the CNT-based resonators for both of nonlinear frequency-/amplitude-based mass sensing are investigated and discussed. The obtained results show that the amplitude-based mass sensing has higher performance than frequency-based one in high quality-factor environments, such as in vitro biological mass sensing in the air or vacuum and inversely the frequency-based mass sensing method has higher mass sensibility in low quality factor environments, such as in vivo biological mass sensing in the liquid solution samples.

Geometrical influence of a deposited particle on the performance of bridged carbon nanotube-based mass detectors

A nonlocal continuum-based model is derived to simulate the dynamic behavior of bridged carbon nanotube-based nano-scale mass detectors. The carbon nanotube (CNT) is modeled as an elastic Euler-Bernoulli beam considering von-Kármán type geometric nonlinearity. In order to achieve better accuracy in characterization of the CNTs, the geometrical properties of an attached nano-scale particle are introduced into the model by its moment of inertia with respect to the central axis of the beam. The inter-atomic long-range interactions within the structure of the CNT are incorporated into the model using Eringen's nonlocal elastic field theory. In this model, the mass can be deposited along an arbitrary length of the CNT. After deriving the full nonlinear equations of motion, the natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes are extracted based on a linear eigenvalue problem analysis. The results show that the geometry of the attached particle has a significant impact on the dynamic behavior of the CNT-based mechanical resonator, especially, for those with small aspect ratios. The developed model and analysis are beneficial for nano-scale mass identification when a CNT-based mechanical resonator is utilized as a small-scale bio-mass sensor and the deposited particles are those, such as proteins, enzymes, cancer cells, DNA and other nano-scale biological objects with different and complex shapes.

Bridged single-walled carbon nanotube-based atomic-scale mass sensors

The potentials of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as mechanical resonators for atomic-scale mass sensing are presented. To this aim, a nonlocal continuum-based model is proposed to study the dynamic behavior of bridged single-walled carbon nanotube-based mass nanosensors. The carbon nanotube (CNT) is considered as an elastic Euler–Bernoulli beam with von Karman type geometric nonlinearity. Eringen’s nonlocal elastic field theory is utilized to model the interatomic long-range interactions within the structure of the CNT. This developed model accounts for the arbitrary position of the deposited atomic-mass. The natural frequencies and associated mode shapes are determined based on an eigenvalue problem analysis. An atom of xenon (Xe) is first considered as a specific case where the results show that the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the CNT are strongly dependent on the location of the deposited Xe and the nonlocal parameter of the CNT. It is also indicated that the first vibrational mode is the most sensitive when the mass is deposited at the middle of a single-walled carbon nanotube. However, when deposited in other locations, it is demonstrated that the second or third vibrational modes may be more sensitive. To investigate the sensitivity of bridged single-walled CNTs as mass sensors, different noble gases are considered, namely Xe, argon (Ar), and helium (He). It is shown that the sensitivity of the single-walled CNT to the Ar and He gases is much lower than the Xe gas due to the significant decrease in their masses. The derived model and performed analysis are so needed for mass sensing applications and particularly when the detected mass is randomly deposited.

Useful Conservation Sums in Molecular Dynamics and Atomistics

Configuration forces of an arbitrary molecular dynamics domain are derived in which the energetic characteristics are approximated as those of a non-local gradient elastic field. The configuration forces include not only the effects of the strain gradients but also those of micro-polar energetics. The useful sums represent approximate expressions of translational, expansional and rotational configuration forces. Particular homogenization of the field makes the continuum limits of the sums approximately obey configurational transformation symmetries to satisfy Noether’s theorem, and to converge to generalized J integral for static non-local elastic fields of homogeneous media; however, the non-local M and L integrals do not have corresponding conservation laws. Interpolation and projection schemes of a molecular dynamics or atomistics system onto a system of continuum motions and energetics are also derived for elastic as well as non-elastic cases.

On the truth of nanoscale for nanobeams based on nonlocal elastic stress field theory: equilibrium, governing equation and static deflection

This paper has successfully addressed three critical but overlooked issues in nonlocal elastic stress field theory for nanobeams: (i) why does the presence of increasing nonlocal effects induce reduced nanostructural stiffness in many, but not consistently for all, cases of study, i.e., increasing static deflection, decreasing natural frequency and decreasing buckling load, although physical intuition according to the nonlocal elasticity field theory first established by Eringen tells otherwise? (ii) the intriguing conclusion that nanoscale effects are missing in the solutions in many exemplary cases of study, e.g., bending deflection of a cantilever nanobeam with a point load at its tip; and (iii) the non-existence of additional higher-order boundary conditions for a higher-order governing differential equation. Applying the nonlocal elasticity field theory in nanomechanics and an exact variational principal approach, we derive the new equilibrium conditions, domain governing differential equation and boundary conditions for bending of nanobeams. These equations and conditions involve essential higher-order differential terms which are opposite in sign with respect to the previously studies in the statics and dynamics of nonlocal nano-structures. The difference in higher-order terms results in reverse trends of nanoscale effects with respect to the conclusion of this paper. Effectively, this paper reports new equilibrium conditions, governing differential equation and boundary conditions and the true basic static responses for bending of nanobeams. It is also concluded that the widely accepted equilibrium conditions of nonlocal nanostructures are in fact not in equilibrium, but they can be made perfect should the nonlocal bending moment be replaced by an effective nonlocal bending moment. These conclusions are substantiated, in a general sense, by other approaches in nanostructural models such as strain gradient theory, modified couple stress models and experiments.

Modelling of the Anisotropic Nonlocal Elastic Field in Polarized Ferroelectrics

Free energy functional and elastic Green's function techniques are combined to find real space solutions for electrostriction controlled elastic field.

Theory of nonlocal asymmetric elastic solids

In this paper, a nonlinear theory of nonlocal asymmetric, elastic solids is developed on the basis of basic theories of nonlocal continuum field theory and nonlinear continuum mechanics. It perfects and expands the nonlocal elastic field theory developed by Eringen and others. The linear theory of nonlocal asymmetric elasticity developed in [1] expands to the finite deformation. We show that there is the nonlocal body moment in the nonlocal elastic solids. The nonlocal body moment causes the stress asymmetric and itself is caused by the covalent bond formed by the reaction between atoms. The theory developed in this paper is applied to explain reasonably that curves of dispersion relation of one-dimensional plane longitudinal waves are not similar with those of transverse waves.