Free Vibration of a Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Nanowire/Nanobeam with Movable Ends

The purpose of this work is to investigate the size-dependent free vibrations of carbon nanotube-reinforced nanowires/nanobeams with movable ends. For this purpose, two movable end conditions are considered for carbon nanotube-reinforced nanowires/nanobeams with different carbon nanotube distributions. The size effect is addressed with the modified couple stress theory, which includes a material length scale parameter.

In this study, a solution approach based on the Fourier sine series and Stokes' transformation is used. With the help of this approach, both rigid and movable end conditions can be investigated. Firstly, equation sets consisting of infinite series and movable end parameters are derived. Then, eigenvalue problems are obtained for the free vibration of carbon nanotube-reinforced nanowires/nanobeams. The eigenvalues of these problems give the frequencies of the carbon nanotube-reinforced nanowires/nanobeams with movable ends.

The eigenvalue problems obtained in this study can be used to examine both rigid and movable end conditions. The accuracy of the problems obtained for solution is proven by various comparison studies. Then, a series of analyses are carried out for nanowire/nanobeam reinforced with carbon nanotubes, including both the size effect and the rotary inertia effect. When the frequencies of nanowire/nanobeams reinforced with carbon nanotubes are examined, it is understood that the material length scale parameter, carbon nanotube distribution, carbon nanotube volume fraction, rotational and lateral spring parameters can cause significant changes in free vibration.