A nonlocal integral Timoshenko beam model for free vibration analysis of SWCNTs under thermal environment

In this paper, the nonlocal integral Timoshenko beam model is employed to study the free vibration characteristics of singled walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) including the thermal effect. Based on the nonlocal continuum theory, the governing equations of motion are formulated by considering thermal effect. The influences of small scale parameter, the chirality of SWCNTs, the vibrational mode number, the aspect ratio of SWCNTs and temperature changes on the thermal vibration properties of single-walled nanotubes are examined and discussed. Results indicate significant dependence of natural frequencies on the nonlocal parameter, the temperature change, the aspect ratio and the chirality of SWCNTs. This work should be useful reference for the application and the design of nanoelectronics and nanoelectromechanical devices that make use of the thermal vibration properties of SWCNTs.