Torsional buckling analysis of multiwalled carbon nanotubes subjected to thermoelectromechanical loadings

摘要

The theoretical torsional buckling analysis of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) undernthermoelectromechanical loadings has been studied, which is of great significance to thenapplication of carbon nanotubes in the electrical and thermal condition. Based on the Donnellnshell theory, the theoretical governing equations of torsional buckling for MWCNTs subjected tonthermoelectromechanical loadings have been established. The effects of torsional load, appliednelectrical and temperature loads, surrounding elastic medium and van der Waals forces betweenntwo adjacent nanotubes are taken into account at the same time. The critical buckling conditionnhas been derived in terms of the buckling modes and the parameters that indicate the effects ofnthermoelectrical change, surrounding elastic medium and the van der Waals forces. Numericalnresults in general case are obtained for the thermal and electrical effects on torsional buckling ofnMWCNTs. It is shown that the critical buckling load under certain electrical and temperature fieldnonly depends on one factor, that is, the wavenumber of torsional buckling modes. Again, thencritical buckling torques of MWCNTs change with the electrical and thermal field. Furthermore, thenelectrical field has much more powerful influence on the critical buckling torques than the thermalnfield.