Energy exchange and localization of low-frequency oscillations in single-walled carbon nanotubes

TL;DR

This paper investigates low-frequency nonlinear oscillations in single-walled carbon nanotubes, predicting energy exchange and localization phenomena through analytical methods and confirming them with molecular dynamics simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a new analytical framework for understanding energy dynamics in CNTs, combining continuum shell theory with the Limiting Phase Trajectory concept.

Findings

Energy exchange occurs between different parts of CNTs.

Weak energy localization can happen in finite CNTs.

Analytical predictions are validated by MD simulations.

Abstract

We present the results of analytical study and Molecular Dynamics simulation of low energy nonlinear non-stationary dynamics of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). New phenomena of intensive energy exchange between different parts of CNT and weak energy localization in a part CNT are analytically predicted in the framework of the continuum shell theory. These phenomena take place for CNTs of finite length with medium aspect ratio under different boundary conditions. Their origin is clarified by means of the concept of Limiting Phase Trajectory, and the analytical results are confirmed by the MD simulation of simply supported CNTs.