Dynamic analysis of nanoscale beams including surface stress effects

In this article, an analytic non-classical model for the free vibrations of nanobeams accounting for surface stress effects is developed. The classical continuum mechanics fails to capture the surface energy effects and hence is not directly applicable at nanoscale. A general beam model based on Gurtin-Murdoch continuum surface elasticity theory is developed for the analysis of thin and thick beams. Thus, surface energy has a significant effect on the response of nanoscale structures, and is associated with their size-dependent behavior. To check the validity of the present analytic solution, the numerical results are compared with those obtained in the scientific literature. The influences of beam thickness, surface density, surface residual stress and surface elastic constants on the natural frequencies of nanobeams are also investigated. It is indicated that the effect of surface stress on the vibrational response of a nanobeam is dependent on its aspect ratio and thickness.