Frequency Study of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes Based on a Space-frame Model with Flexible Connections

The dynamic behavior of the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is studied based on the flexibly connected space-frame model which was proposed to simulate the static elastic properties of SWCNTs by the authors previously. The frequencies of SWCNTs with the clamped-free and clamped-clamped boundary conditions and the different ratios of length to diameter are computed. The resulting frequencies agree well with the solutions obtained from the sophisticated molecular dynamics models. In the predictions of equivalent moduli of SWCNTs, the flexibly connected space-frame model of carbon nanotubes yields a little bit lager moduli than the original space-frames model with rigid connections. In the present dynamics study, the flexibly connected space-frame model also gives the improved frequency prediction of SWCNTs than the original space-frame model. Consequently, the present vibration analysis shows that the flexibly connected spaceframe model is a simple, efficient and accurate structural mechanics model to predict both the equivalent elastic moduli and the dynamic behaviors of carbon nanotubes. Keywords—carbon nanotubes; dynamic behavior; numerical simulations; equivalent structural mechanics model; flexibly connected space-frame.