Application of nonlocal higher-order beam theory to transverse wave analysis of magnetically affected forests of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Recently, it has been proved that the mechanical properties of arrays of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are enhanced along the direction of the applied magnetic field, however, no study has been performed to explain characteristics of waves within magnetically affected forests of SWCNTs with three-dimensional configuration. Using nonlocal higher-order beam theory, characteristics of traveling transverse waves in vertically aligned jungles of SWCNTs in the presence of a longitudinal magnetic field are going to be explored carefully. Both nonlocal discrete and continuous models are established and the capabilities of the continuous model in capturing the characteristics of waves by the discrete model are declared. The newly established continuous model would be very useful in examining vibrations of magnetically affected nanosystems with high population in which the discrete model suffers from huge amount of computational effort and labor costs. Roles of magnetic field strength, small-scale parameter, radius of SWCNTs, intertube distance, longitudinal wavenumber, and number of constitutive SWCNTs of the nanosystem on dispersion curves, phase velocities, and group velocities are investigated. The influences of nonlocality and magnetic field strength on these characteristics of elastic waves are also highlighted. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.