State-Space Formulation for Buckling and Free Vibration of Axially Functionally Graded Graphene Reinforced Nanocomposite Microbeam under Axially Varying Loads.

This paper focuses on the size-dependent free vibration and buckling behaviors of the axially functionally graded (AFG) graphene platelets (GPLs) reinforced nanocomposite microbeams subjected to axially varying loads (AVLs). With various axial grading patterns, the GPL nano-reinforcements are distributed throughout the polymer matrix against microbeam length, and the improved Halpin-Tsai micromechanics model and the rule of mixture are adopted to evaluate the effective material properties. Eigenvalue equations of the microbeams governing the static stability and vibration are derived based on the modified couple stress Euler-Bernoulli beam theory via the state-space method, and are analytically solved with the discrete equilong segment model. The effects of axial distribution patterns, weight fraction, and geometric parameters of GPLs, as well as different types of AVLs, on the size-dependent buckling load and natural frequency are scrutinized in detail. The results show that the synchronized axial distributions of GPLs and AVLs could improve the buckling resistance and natural frequency more powerfully.

3D Size-Dependent Dynamic Instability Analysis of FG Cylindrical Microshells Subjected to Combinations of Periodic Axial Compression and External Pressure Using a Hermitian C2 Finite Layer Method Based on the Consistent Couple Stress Theory.

This work develops a three-dimensional (3D) weak formulation, based on the consistent couple stress theory (CCST), for analyzing the size-dependent dynamic instability behavior of simply-supported, functionally graded (FG) cylindrical microshells that are subjected to combinations of periodic axial compression and external pressure. In our formulation, the microshells are artificially divided into nl layers. The displacement components of each individual layer are selected as the primary variables, which are expanded as a double Fourier series in the in-plane domain and are interpolated with Hermitian C2 polynomials in the thickness direction. Incorporating the layer-wise displacement models into our weak formulation, we develop a Hermitian C2 finite layer method (FLM) for addressing the current issue. The accuracy and the convergence rate of our Hermitian C2 FLM are validated by comparing the solutions it produces with the accurate two-dimensional solutions of critical loads and critical pressures of FG cylindrical macroshells and single-walled carbon nanotubes, which were reported in the literature. The numerical results show the effects of the material length-scale parameter, the inhomogeneity index, the radius-to-thickness and length-to-radius ratios, the load magnitude ratio, and the static and dynamic load factors on the first principal and first secondary instability regions of parametric resonance of simply-supported FG cylindrical microshells are significant.

Unravelling Size-Dependent and Coupled Properties in Mechanical Metamaterials: A Couple-Stress Theory Perspective.

The lack of material characteristic length scale prevents classical continuum theory (CCT) from recognizing size effect. Additionally, the even-order material property tensors associated with CCT only characterize the materials' centrosymmetric behavior and overlook their intrinsic chirality and polarity. Moreover, CCT is not reducible to 2D and 1D space without adding couples and higher-order deformation gradients. Despite several generalized continuum theories proposed over the past century to overcome the limitations of CCT, the broad application of these theories in the field of mechanical metamaterials has encountered significant challenges. These obstacles primarily arise from a limited understanding of the material coefficients associated with these theories, impeding their widespread adoption. Implementing a bottom-up approach based on augmented asymptotic homogenization, a consistent and self-sufficient effective couple-stress theory for materials with microstructures in 3D, 2D, and 1D spaces is presented. Utilizing the developed models, material properties associated with axial-twist, shear-bending, bending-twist, and double curvature bending couplings in mechanical metamaterials are characterized. The accuracy of these homogenized models is investigated by comparing them with the detailed finite element models and experiments performed on 3D-printed samples. The proposed models provide a benchmark for the rational design, classification, and manufacturing of mechanical metamaterials with programmable coupled deformation modes.

Nonlinear Finite Element Model for Bending Analysis of Functionally-Graded Porous Circular/Annular Micro-Plates under Thermomechanical Loads Using Quasi-3D Reddy Third-Order Plate Theory.

A nonlinear finite element model for axisymmetric bending of micro circular/annular plates under thermal and mechanical loading was developed using quasi-3D Reddy third-order shear deformation theory. The developed finite element model accounts for a variation of material constituents utilizing a power-law distribution of a two-constituent material, three different porosity distributions through plate thickness, and geometrical nonlinearity. The modified couple stress theory was utilized to account for the strain gradient effects using a single material length scale parameter. Three different types of porosity distributions that have the same overall volume fraction but different enhanced areas were considered as a form of cosine functions. The effects of the material and porosity distribution, microstructure-dependency, the geometric nonlinearity, and various boundary conditions on the bending response of functionally-graded porous axisymmetric microplates under thermomechanical loads were studied using the developed nonlinear finite element model.

A Size-Dependent Finite Element Method for the 3D Free Vibration Analysis of Functionally Graded Graphene Platelets-Reinforced Composite Cylindrical Microshells Based on the Consistent Couple Stress Theory.

Within a framework of the consistent couple stress theory (CCST), a size-dependent finite element method (FEM) is developed. The three-dimensional (3D) free vibration characteristics of simply-supported, functionally graded (FG) graphene platelets (GPLs)-reinforced composite (GPLRC) cylindrical microshells are analyzed. In the formulation, the microshells are artificially divided into numerous finite microlayers. Fourier functions and Hermitian C2 polynomials are used to interpolate the in-surface and out-of-surface variations in the displacement components induced in each microlayer. As a result, the second-order derivative continuity conditions for the displacement components at each nodal surface are satisfied. Five distribution patterns of GPLs varying in the thickness direction are considered, including uniform distribution (UD) and FG A-type, O-type, V-type, and X-type distributions. The accuracy and convergence of the CCST-based FEM are validated by comparing the solutions it produces with the exact and approximate 3D solutions for FG cylindrical macroshells reported in the literature, for which the material length scale parameter is set at zero. Numerical results show that by increasing the weight fraction of GPLs by 1%, the natural frequency of FG-GPLRC cylindrical microshells can be increased to more than twice that of the homogeneous cylindrical microshells. In addition, the effects of the material length scale parameter, the GPL distribution patterns, and the length-to-thickness ratio of GPLs on natural frequencies of the FG-GPLRC cylindrical microshells are significant.

Analysis of Size-Dependent Linear Static Bending, Buckling, and Free Vibration Based on a Modified Couple Stress Theory.

The purposes of this paper are to study bending, buckling, and vibration by considering micro-scale effects using the Kirchhoff thin-plate theory and to consider small deflections, neglecting higher-order nonlinear terms. The governing equations for the bending, buckling, and vibration of the system are obtained using the equilibrium method coupled with the Kirchhoff thin-plate theory and a modified couple stress theory (MCST). The concept of the equivalent bending stiffness (EBS) of micro-thin plates is proposed to describe the scale effect. The Navier method is used to obtain analytical solutions for the bending, buckling, and free vibration of thin plates under simply supported boundary conditions with scale effects. The numerical results are presented to investigate the influence of scale effects on deflection, critical buckling load, buckling topography, and thin-plate natural frequency. The results show that the scale effect increases the equivalent stiffness of the thin plate, which leads to a decrease in deflection, a larger critical buckling load, and an increase in natural frequency, but does not affect the buckling topography. The MSCT is invalid when the thickness is greater than 10 times the scale effect parameter, thus defining the scope of application of the scale effect. This research study may contribute to the design of micro-scale devices such as MEMSs/NEMSs.

A New Mathematical Model of Functionally Graded Porous Euler-Bernoulli Nanoscaled Beams Taking into Account Some Types of Nonlinearities.

A new mathematical model of flexible physically (FN), geometrically (GN), and simultaneously physically and geometrically (PGN) nonlinear porous functionally graded (PFG) Euler-Bernoulli beams was developed using a modified couple stress theory. The ceramic phase of the functionally material was considered as an elastic material. The metal phase was considered as a physically non-linear material dependent on coordinates, time, and stress-strain state, which gave the opportunity to apply the deformation theory of plasticity. The governing equations of the beam as well as boundary and initial conditions were derived using Hamilton's principle and the finite difference method (FDM) with a second-order approximation. The Cauchy problem was solved by several methods such as Runge-Kutta from 4-th to 8-th order accuracy and the Newmark method. Static problems, with the help of the establishment method, were solved. At each time step, nested iterative procedures of Birger method of variable elasticity parameters and Newton's method were built. The Mises criterion was adopted as a criterion for plasticity. Three types of porosity-dependent material properties are incorporated into the mathematical modeling. For metal beams, taking into account the geometric and physical nonlinearity, the phenomenon of changing the boundary conditions, i.e., constructive nonlinearity (CN) was found.

Dynamics Analysis of Penetration against Pebble-Concrete Target.

The classical continuum mechanics theory cannot sufficiently describe the effect of pebbles on projectile, which leads to a large calculation error. In this paper, an orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system is constructed, which effectively describes and perfects the normal cavity expansion theory. A couple stress theory based on the normal cavity expansion is proposed in which not only the tangential movements but also the rotations of the concrete medium are considered. According to the high-speed impact of pebble concrete, combined with dynamic equations and the FE simulation, the theoretical and simulation results of pebble particles scale on warhead resistance are compared. It is shown that, the larger the scale of pebble particles, the stronger the effect of rotation on the resistant force applied on the warhead.

Modeling and analysis of nature-inspired branched micropillars for enhanced dynamic bio-sensing.

Research evidence abounds on the effectiveness of micropillar-based microelectromechanical systems for the detection of a wide variety of ultrasmall biological objects for clinical and non-clinical applications. However, the standard micropillar-based sensing platforms rely on a single-column micropillar with a spot at the tip for binding of objects. Although this long-standing form has shown immense potential, performance improvement is hindered by the fundamental limits enforced by physical laws. Moreover, the single-column micropillar has a lower sensing area and is ill-suited for a simultaneous differential sensing of chemical/biological objects of different mass. Here, we report a new set of nature-inspired, branched micropillar-based sensing resonators to address the highlighted issues. The characteristics of the newly proposed branched micropillars are comprehensively examined with three payloads (Bartonella Bacilliformis, Escherichia coli, and Micro magnetic beads). Anchored on the capability of continuum theoretical framework, the mathematical model of the micropillar is formulated through the synthesis of the modified couple stress, the Rayleigh-Love, and the Timoshenko theories. The finite element method is employed to shed light on the variability of the structures' resonant response under performance reduction factors (payload's rotary inertia, damaged substrate, and density of a surrounding fluid). The results obtained indicate superior performance indicators for the triply-branched micropillar: enhanced response sensitivity for multiple payloads and less susceptibility to deterioration in resonant frequencies due to fluid immersion.

Nonlinear Free and Forced Vibrations of a Hyperelastic Micro/Nanobeam Considering Strain Stiffening Effect.

In recent years, the static and dynamic response of micro/nanobeams made of hyperelasticity materials received great attention. In the majority of studies in this area, the strain-stiffing effect that plays a major role in many hyperelastic materials has not been investigated deeply. Moreover, the influence of the size effect and large rotation for such a beam that is important for the large deformation was not addressed. This paper attempts to explore the free and forced vibrations of a micro/nanobeam made of a hyperelastic material incorporating strain-stiffening, size effect, and moderate rotation. The beam is modelled based on the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, and strains are obtained via an extended von Kármán theory. Boundary conditions and governing equations are derived by way of Hamilton's principle. The multiple scales method is applied to obtain the frequency response equation, and Hamilton's technique is utilized to obtain the free undamped nonlinear frequency. The influence of important system parameters such as the stiffening parameter, damping coefficient, length of the beam, length-scale parameter, and forcing amplitude on the frequency response, force response, and nonlinear frequency is analyzed. Results show that the hyperelastic microbeam shows a nonlinear hardening behavior, which this type of nonlinearity gets stronger by increasing the strain-stiffening effect. Conversely, as the strain-stiffening effect is decreased, the nonlinear frequency is decreased accordingly. The evidence from this study suggests that incorporating strain-stiffening in hyperelastic beams could improve their vibrational performance. The model proposed in this paper is mathematically simple and can be utilized for other kinds of micro/nanobeams with different boundary conditions.

The size effect in adhesive contact on a gradient nanostructured coating.

The adhesive contact problem between a rigid cylindrical punch and a gradient nanostructured (GNS) coating is investigated by considering the size effect. The laminated plate model is applied to characterize the material properties of a GNS coating in plane strain couple stress elasticity. By using the Fourier integral transform and transfer matrix method, the governing integral equation(s) for the two-dimensional adhesive contact problem are obtained. Numerically calculated results are presented to analyse the effect of characteristic material length, the adhesion parameter and nonhomogeneous parameters on the mechanical response of the GNS coating for the adhesive contact problem. We explore the nanoscale contact of a GNS coating with shear modulus varying as a function of depth according to an exponential function or the power-law function. The present results provide a way to improve the contact deformation and damage to nanoelectromechanical systems by adjusting the gradient index of the GNS coating.

Multilayered non-uniform atomic force microscope piezoelectric microcantilever control and vibration analysis considering different excitation based on the modified couple stress theory.

Atomic force microscope (AFM) is one of the most powerful tools for surface scanning, force measurement, and nano-manipulation. To improve its performance, vibration and control of AFM micro-cantilever (MC) should be studied. Hysteresis, as an undesired phenomenon affecting vibration amplitude and phase, is also another important issue to be examined. In this paper, vibration analysis and control of a ZnO non-uniform multi-layered piezoelectric MC has been investigated in non-contact mode. A modified couple stress theory has been used to obtain the strain energy for modeling the MC. In order to control the amplitude, a sliding mode controller (SMC) has been utilized on AFM, due to its application in uncertain and nonlinear systems. For applying the control signal, two methods of piezo and base actuation are studied. The results are compared with proportional integral derivative (PID) control method and it is demonstrated that SMC method reduces the control input close to the surface and increases the accuracy near the surface. In addition to MC control, hysteresis amplitude and phase differences are investigated by applying the Prandtl-Ishlinskii model. Also, surface topography is studied with hysteresis. The simulations show backward phase difference and an increase in amplitude, accordingly.

Quasi-3D Hyperbolic Shear Deformation Theory for the Free Vibration Study of Honeycomb Microplates with Graphene Nanoplatelets-Reinforced Epoxy Skins.

A novel quasi-3D hyperbolic shear deformation theory (QHSDT) with five unknowns is here employed, together with the Hamilton's principle and the modified couple stress theory (MCST) to analyze the vibrational behavior of rectangular micro-scale sandwich plates resting on a visco-Pasternak foundation. The sandwich structure features a Nomex or Glass phenolic honeycomb core, and two composite face sheets reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs). The effective properties of both face sheets are evaluated by means of the Halpin-Tsai and extended rule of mixture (ERM) micromechanical schemes. The governing equations of the problem are derived by applying the Hamilton's principle, whose solutions are determined theoretically according to a classical Navier-type procedure. A parametric study checks for the effect of different material properties, length-scale parameters, foundation parameters and geometrical properties of the honeycomb cells, and the reinforcing GPLs, on the vibration response of the layered structure, which can be of great interest for many modern engineering applications and their optimization design.

Length scale parameter of single trabecula in cancellous bone.

In this paper, the material length scale parameter of the modified couple stress theory for trabecular bones is studied. For this reason, experimental data for the buckling of single wet and dry trabeculae from the subchondral region of the human medial tibial plateau are used from the literature. A material length scale parameter is extracted using the modified couple stress theory-based buckling relation and the experimental results. This parameter can capture the size-dependent behavior of trabeculae and can be beneficial for micro-mechanical investigation of trabecular bones. In addition, this paper proposes a size-dependent length scale parameter for trabeculae to estimate the buckling behaviors of dry and wet trabeculae, more accurately. Therefore, this paper confirms that the softening (weakening) effects of the modified couple stress theory and size-dependent behavior of the material length scale parameter can be considered for some special cases, and additionally, a correct value for the length scale parameter of the trabecula is revealed.

Nonclassical dynamic modeling of nano/microparticles during nanomanipulation processes.

Since the manipulation of particles using atomic force microscopy is not observable in real-time, modeling the manipulation process is of notable importance, enabling us to investigate the dynamical behavior of nanoparticles. To model this process, previous studies employed classical continuum mechanics and molecular dynamics simulations which had certain limitations; the former does not consider size effects at the nanoscale while the latter is time consuming and faces computational restrictions. To optimize accuracy and computational costs, a new nonclassical modeling of the nanomanipulation process based on the modified couple stress theory is proposed that includes the size effects. To this end, after simulating the critical times and forces that are required for the onset of nanoparticle motion on the substrate, along with the dominant motion mode, the nonclassical theory of continuum mechanics and a developed von Mises yield criterion are employed to investigate the dynamical behavior of a cylindrical gold nanoparticle during manipulation. Timoshenko and Euler-Bernoulli beam theories based on the modified couple stress theory are used to model the dynamics of cylindrical gold nanoparticles while the finite element method is utilized to solve the governing equations of motion. The results show a difference of 90% between the classical and nonclassical models in predicting the maximum deflection before the beginning of the dominant mode and a difference of more than 25% in the dynamic modeling of a 200 nm manipulation of a gold nanoparticle with a length of 25 µm and aspect ratio of 30. This difference increases with each increment of the aspect ratio and reduction of manipulation distance. Furthermore, by applying an extended von Mises criterion on the modified couple stress theory, it is found that the failure aspect ratio of a cylindrical gold nanoparticle based on nonclassical models is 212% more than that of the classical model. In the end, the results are compared with those of the classical method on polystyrene nanorods. The results for cylindrical gold nanoparticles indicate that the material length scale has a major effect on the exact positioning of cylindrical nanoparticles.

Size-Dependent Free Vibration and Buckling of Three-Dimensional Graphene Foam Microshells Based on Modified Couple Stress Theory.

In this research, the vibration and buckling of three-dimensional graphene foam (3D-GrF) microshells are investigated for the first time. In the microshells, three-dimensional graphene foams can distribute uniformly or non-uniformly through the thickness direction. Based on Love's thin shell theory and the modified couple stress theory (MCST), size-dependent governing equations and corresponding boundary conditions are established through Hamilton's principle. Then, vibration and axial buckling of 3D-GrF microshells are analyzed by employing the Navier method and Galerkin method. Results show that the graphene foam distribution type, size effect, the foam coefficient, the radius-to-thickness ratio, and the length-to-radius ratio play important roles in the mechanical characteristics of 3D-GrF microshells.

A simulation of atomic force microscope microcantilever in the tapping mode utilizing couple stress theory.

The nonlinear vibration behavior of a Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) microcantilever under acoustic excitation force has been modeled and investigated. In dynamic AFM, the tip-surface interactions are strongly nonlinear, rapidly changing and hysteretic. First, the governing differential equation of motion and boundary conditions for dynamic analysis are obtained using the modified couple stress theory. Afterwards, closed-form expressions for nonlinear frequency and effective nonlinear damping ratio are derived utilizing perturbation method. The effect of tip connection position on the vibration behavior of the microcantilever are also analyzed. The results show that nonlinear frequency is size dependent. According to the results, an increase in the equilibrium separation between the tip and the sample surface reduces the overall effect of van der Waals forces on the nonlinear frequency, but its effect on the effective nonlinear damping ratio is negligible. The results also indicate that both the change in the distance between tip and cantilever free end and the reduction of tip radius have significant effects on the accuracy and sensitivity of the TM-AFM in the measurement of surface forces. The hysteretic behavior has been observed in the near resonance frequency response due to softening and hardening of the forced vibration response.

Buckling analysis of orthotropic protein microtubules under axial and radial compression based on couple stress theory.

Protein microtubules (MTs) are one of the important intercellular components and have a vital role in the stability and strength of the cells. Due to applied external loads, protein microtubules may be involved buckling phenomenon. Due to impact of protein microtubules in cell reactions, it is important to determine their critical buckling load. Considering nature of protein microtubules, various parameters are effective on microtubules buckling. The small size of microtubules and also lack of uniformity of MTs properties in different directions caused the necessity of accuracy in the analysis of these bio-structure. In fact, microtubules must be considered as a size dependent cylinder, which behave as an orthotropic material. Hence, in the present work using first-order shear deformation model (FSDT), the buckling equations of anisotropic MTs are derived based on new modified couple stress theory (NMCST). After solving the stability equations, the influences of various parameters are measured on the MTs critical buckling load.

A non-classical Mindlin plate model incorporating microstructure, surface energy and foundation effects.

A non-classical model for a Mindlin plate resting on an elastic foundation is developed in a general form using a modified couple stress theory, a surface elasticity theory and a two-parameter Winkler-Pasternak foundation model. It includes all five kinematic variables possible for a Mindlin plate. The equations of motion and the complete boundary conditions are obtained simultaneously through a variational formulation based on Hamilton's principle, and the microstructure, surface energy and foundation effects are treated in a unified manner. The newly developed model contains one material length-scale parameter to describe the microstructure effect, three surface elastic constants to account for the surface energy effect, and two foundation parameters to capture the foundation effect. The current non-classical plate model reduces to its classical elasticity-based counterpart when the microstructure, surface energy and foundation effects are all suppressed. In addition, the new model includes the Mindlin plate models considering the microstructure dependence or the surface energy effect or the foundation influence alone as special cases, recovers the Kirchhoff plate model incorporating the microstructure, surface energy and foundation effects, and degenerates to the Timoshenko beam model including the microstructure effect. To illustrate the new Mindlin plate model, the static bending and free vibration problems of a simply supported rectangular plate are analytically solved by directly applying the general formulae derived.

Sensitivity analysis of rectangular atomic force microscope cantilevers immersed in liquids based on the modified couple stress theory.

The modified couple stress theory is adopted to study the sensitivity of a rectangular atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever immersed in acetone, water, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), and 1-butanol. The theory contains a material length scale parameter and considers the size effect in the analysis. However, this parameter is difficult to obtain via experimental measurements. In this study, a conjugate gradient method for the parameter estimation of the frequency equation is presented. The optimal method provides a quantitative approach for estimating the material length scale parameter based on the modified couple stress theory. The results show that the material length scale parameter of the AFM cantilever immersed in acetone, CCl4, water, and 1-butanol is 0, 25, 116.3, and 471 nm, respectively. In addition, the vibration sensitivities of the AFM cantilever immersed in these liquids are investigated. The results are useful for the design of AFM cantilevers immersed in liquids.