Simulation of Internally-Pressurized Nanochannels

This work deals with simulations of nanochannels under internal pressures. A physical model is developed to address the case that internal pressure exists due to the flow of unipolar solutions in nanochannels with a circular cross section. Length scales of the channels were studied to show the dependence of the internal pressure level on the dimension of the channels. Two different levels of internal pressure were used in the simulations to show the plastic/elastic transition behavior in the materials containing the nanochannels. It is found that a fully plastic deformation state can be established on the inner boundaries of the channels as long as the internal pressure is high enough so that the resolved shear stress exceeds the critical shear stresses of the materials. But the depth into the materials at which plastic to elastic deformation transition occurs is affected by the pressure level. The higher the pressure, the deeper the plastic zone penetrates. The results from the simulations are useful for predicting the deformation states of nanochannels or nanopores under internal forces generated by confined ions, electrostatic chargers, and encapsulated gases/fluids.