Axial instability of double-nanobeam-systems

This Letter considers the axial instability of double-nanobeam-systems. Eringen's nonlocal elasticity is utilized for modelling the double-nanobeam-systems. The nonlocal theory accounts for the small-scale effects arising at the nanoscale. The small-scale effects substantially influence the instability (or buckling) of double-nanobeam-systems. Results reveal that the small-scale effects are higher with increasing values of nonlocal parameter for the case of in-phase (synchronous) buckling modes than the out-of-phase (asynchronous) buckling modes. The increase of the stiffness of the coupling elastic medium in double-nanobeam-system reduces the small-scale effects during the out-of-phase (asynchronous) buckling modes. Analysis of the scale effects in higher buckling loads of double-nanobeam-system with synchronous and asynchronous modes is also discussed in this Letter. The theoretical development presented herein may serve as a reference for nonlocal theories as applied to the instability analysis of complex-nanobeam-system such as complex carbon nanotube system. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.