Characteristic of Waves in A Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube

Abstract

A multi-walled carbon nanotube is modeled as a multiple-elastic cylindrical structure. The numerical-analytical method is adopted to analyze the characteristics of harmonic waves propagating along an anisotropic carbon nanotube. Each wall of the carbon nanotube is divided into three-nodal-line layer elements. The deflections of two adjacent tubes are coupled through the van der Waals. The governing equation of element is obtained from Hamilton's principle. A set of system equation of dynamics equilibrium for the entire structure is obtained by the assembling of all the elements. From solution of the eigenvalue equations, the dispersive characteristics, group velocities of multi-walled carbon nanotubes are achieved, and these properties of the six characteristic wave surfaces are also obtained.