A mechanical response of functionally graded nanoscale beam: an assessment of a refined nonlocal shear deformation theory beam theory

Abstract

This paper presents a nonlocal shear deformation beam theory for bending, buckling, and vibration of functionally graded (FG) nanobeams using the nonlocal differential constitutive relations of Eringen. The developed theory account for higher-order variation of transverse shear strain through the depth of the nanobeam, and satisfy the stress-free boundary conditions on the top and bottom surfaces of the nanobeam. A shear correction factor, therefore, is not required. In addition, this nonlocal nanobeam model incorporates the length scale parameter which can capture the small scale effect and it has strong similarities with Euler-Bernoulli beam model in some aspects such as equations of motion, boundary conditions, and stress resultant expressions. The material properties of the FG nanobeam are assumed to vary in the thickness direction. The equations of motion are derived from Hamilton's principle. Analytical solutions are presented for a simply supported FG nanobeam, and the obtained results compare well with those predicted by the nonlocal Timoshenko beam theory.