Vibration Simulations of Double-Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Finite Element Method

Abstract

Finite element (FE) method is used to study the vibration behavior of armchair and zigzag double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs). In the analysis, nonlinear spring elements and the Lennard-Jones potential function are used to simulate the Van der Waals' force between non-bond atoms of different tube layers. We systematically analyze the effects of aspect ratio, double-atom vacancy defects and Van der Waals' force on the vibration behavior of DWCNTs. The simulation results show that the first order natural frequency decreases with the increase of length-to-diameter ratio (aspect ratio), the existence of Van der Waals' force causes the increase of natural frequency, and double-atom vacancy defects results in the decrease of each order natural frequency.