The thermal effect on vibration and instability of carbon nanotubes conveying fluid

Based on the theory of thermal elasticity mechanics, an elastic Bernoulli-Euler beam model is developed for vibration and instability analysis of fluid-conveying single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) considering the thermal effect. Results are demonstrated for the dependence of natural frequencies on the flow velocity as well as temperature change. The influence of temperature change on the critical flow velocity at which buckling instability occurs is investigated. It is concluded that the effect of temperature change on the instability of SWNTs conveying fluid is significant. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.