Analysis of Temperature Effect on the Mechanical Behavior of Euler–Bernoulli Nanocantilever Using Molecular Dynamics Simulation Method

Abstract

Due to the various applications of nanocantilevers as nanosensors and nanoactuators in nanoelectromechanical systems, understanding their behavior is of particular importance. In operating environments, nanocantilevers are simultaneously exposed to mechanical forces and heat. This study aims to examine the behavior of an Euler–Bernoulli nanocantilever when it is placed under mechanical loads and exposed to heat at the same time. The effects of size, temperature, and force on the flexural behavior of the nanocantilever were investigated and the following characteristics were obtained via molecular dynamics simulation: nanocantilever displacement versus time, maximum bending, nanocantilever yielding time, and the minimum acceptable working frequency range for nanocantilever-based nanoswitches. It was found that applying forces greater than 0.00005[Formula: see text]eV/A, the studied nanocantilevers would rapidly undergo plastic deformation. For applied forces less than 0.00005[Formula: see text]eV/A, the nanocantilevers with length of 40[Formula: see text]nm, 30[Formula: see text]nm and 20[Formula: see text]nm can withstand upto 750[Formula: see text]K, 600[Formula: see text]K and 300[Formula: see text]K in 200[Formula: see text]ns to more than 1.5[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]s time period, respectively.