A nonlocal Levinson beam model for free vibration analysis of zigzag single-walled carbon nanotubes including thermal effects

A nonlocal Levinson beam model is developed to study the free vibrations of a zigzag single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) in thermal environments. The equivalent Young’s modulus and shear modulus for a zigzag SWCNT are derived using an energy-equivalent model. The present study illustrates that the vibration characteristics of an SWCNT are strongly dependent on the temperature change and on the chirality of a zigzag carbon nanotube. The investigation of the chirality and temperature effects on free vibration of carbon nanotubes may be used as a useful reference for the application and the design of nanoelectronic and nanodrive devices, nano-oscillators, and nanosensors, in which carbon nanotubes act as basic elements.