A meshless approach for free transverse vibration of embedded single-walled nanotubes with arbitrary boundary conditions accounting for nonlocal effect

A single-walled nanotube structure embedded in an elastic matrix is simulated by the nonlocal Euler-Bernoulli, Timoshenko, and higher order beams. The beams are assumed to be elastically supported and attached to continuous lateral and rotational springs to take into account the effects of the surrounding matrix. The discrete equations of motion associated with free transverse vibration of each model are established in the context of the nonlocal continuum mechanics of Eringen using Hamilton's principle and an efficient meshless method. The effects of slenderness ratio of the nanotube, small scale effect parameter, initial axial force and the stiffness of the surrounding matrix on the natural frequencies of various beam models are investigated for different boundary conditions. The capabilities of the proposed nonlocal beam models in capturing the natural frequencies of the nanotube are also addressed. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.