Terahertz Wave Propagation in a Nanotube Conveying Fluid Taking into Account Surface Effect

• Main Authors: Bo Fang, Jian Zang, Ye-Wei Zhang, Tian-Zhi Yang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2013-06-01
• Series: Materials
• Subjects: single-walled carbon nanotube; surface effect; nonlocal Timoshenko beam theory; terahertz wave
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/6/6/2393

In nanoscale structure sizes, the surface-to-bulk energy ratio is high and the surface effects must be taken into account. Surface effect plays a key role in accurately predicting the vibration behavior of nanostructures. In this paper, the wave behaviors of a single-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) conveying fluid are studied. The nonlocal Timoshenko beam theory is used and the surface effect is taken into account. It is found that the fluid can flow at a very high flow velocity and the wave propagates in the terahertz frequency range. The surface effects can significantly enhance the propagating frequency. This finding is different from the classical model where the surface effect is neglected.