Application of nonlocal elastic shell theory in wave propagation analysis of carbon nanotubes

Wave propagation in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is studied based on the proposed nonlocal elastic shell theory. Both theoretical analyses and numerical simulations have explicitly revealed the small-scale effect on wave dispersion relations for different CNT wavenumbers in the longitudinal and circumferential directions and for different wavelengths in the circumferential direction. The applicability of the proposed nonlocal elastic shell theory is especially explored and analyzed based on the differences between the wave solutions from local and nonlocal theories in numerical simulations. It is found that the newly proposed nonlocal shell theory is indispensable in predicting CNT phonon dispersion relations at larger longitudinal and circumferential wavenumbers and smaller wavelength in the circumferential direction when the small-scale effect becomes dominant and hence noteworthy. In addition, the asymptotic frequency, phase velocities and cut-off frequencies are also derived from the nonlocal shell theory. Moreover, an estimation of the scale coefficient is provided based on the derived asymptotic frequency. The research findings not only demonstrate great potential of the proposed nonlocal shell theory in studying vibration and phonon dispersion relations of CNTs but also signify limitations of local continuum mechanics in analysis of small-scale effects, and thus are of significance in promoting the development of nonlocal continuum mechanics in the design of nanostructures.