Nonlinear oscillations of carbon nanotubes

In this paper, the low-frequency nonlinear oscillations and energy localizations of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs) are analysed. The SWNTs dynamics is studied within the framework of the Sanders-Koiter thin shell theory. The circumferential flexure vibration modes (CFMs) are considered. Simply supported boundary conditions are investigated. Two different approaches are compared, based on numerical and analytical models. The numerical model uses a double series expansion for the displacement fields based on the Chebyshev polynomials and harmonic functions. The Lagrange equations are considered to obtain a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations of motion which are solved using the implicit Runge-Kutta numerical method. The analytical model considers a reduced form of the shell theory assuming small circumferential and tangential shear deformations. The Galerkin procedure is used to get the nonlinear ordinary differential equations of motion which are solved using the multiple scales analytical method. The natural frequencies obtained by considering the two approaches are compared in linear field. The effect of the aspect ratio on the analytical and numerical values of the localization threshold is investigated in nonlinear field.