Nonlinear Dynamics of Carbon Nanotubes Under Soft Alternating Current Actuation

Authors

Le Luo, University of Texas-Pan American

Date of Award

8-2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Mechanical Engineering

First Advisor

Dr. Dumitru Caruntu

Second Advisor

Dr. Horacio Vasquez

Third Advisor

Dr. Dorina Mihut

Abstract

This thesis work deals with electrostatically actuated Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) cantilevers. Four forces are acting on the CNTs cantilever, namely damping, elastic, electrostatic and van der Waals forces. The van der Waals force is significant for values of 50 nm or lower of the gap between the CNTs and the ground substrate. As both electrostatic and van der Waals forces are nonlinear, and the CNTs electrostatic actuation is given by alternating current (AC) voltage, the CNTs undergo nonlinear parametric dynamics. The Method of Multiple Scales (MMS) and Reduced Order Model (ROM) are employed to investigate the system under soft excitation and weak nonlinearities. The frequency-amplitude and voltage-amplitude responses are reported in the cases of AC near half natural frequency and AC near primary natural frequency.

Comments

Copyright 2013 Le Luo. All Rights Reserved.

https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/nonlinear-dynamics-carbon-nanotubes-under-soft/docview/1459229442/se-2

Granting Institution

University of Texas-Pan American