Confined nanorods: Jamming due to helical buckling

Abstract

We investigate a longitudinally loaded elastic nanorod inside a cylindrical channel and show within the context of classical elasticity theory that the Euler buckling instability leads to a helical postbuckling form of the rod within the channel. The local pitch of the confined helix changes along the channel and so does the longitudinal force transmitted along the rod, diminishing away from the loaded end. This creates a possibility of jamming of the nanorod within the channel.

Physical properties of elongated inorganic nanoparticles

“…Especially in the case of piezoelectric nanodevices, their mechanical characterization and most notably the study of the buckling behavior of a given nanostructure are extremely important. As of today, buckling studies have focused mainly on carbon nanotubes and on ZnO nanorods/nanowires [566,[601][602][603][604][605][606][607]. Most notably wurtzite ZnO, due to its noncentrosymmetric nature, has been used as piezoelectric material, for example in piezoelectric thin films for highfrequency bulk acoustic wave and surface acoustic wave transducers and resonators.…”

Extending the Reach of a Rod Injected Into a Cylinder Through Distributed Vibration

“…We also define the peak velocity of the sinusoidal vibration, vpk, as (2) F ig . We also define the peak velocity of the sinusoidal vibration, vpk, as (2) F ig .…”

“…The insertion of a slender rodlike structure into a cylindrical constraint can lead to buckled configurations that may eventually jam, or lock-up, the system and prevent further injection [1], This process arises in a variety of natural and engineering systems, ranging from deoxyribonucleic acid and nanorods [2], to vascular catheters [3], and coiled tubing operations in the oilfield [4], In particular, for the latter example at the kilometer scale, the axial force that drives buckling typically builds up due to the frictional interaction between the filamentary structure and the surface of the pipe [5] or collision with an obstruction [6].…”

Helical Buckling of Slender Beam Structures Surrounded by an Elastic Medium

“…Under this condition, spiral-shaped helical buckling modes can occur due to the restraining effect of the surrounding medium. Helical buckling phenomena can be widely found in nature (Silverberg [5]), as well as fields of engineering (Sun and Lukasiewicz [6], Thompson et al [7], Valverde and van der Heijden [8]) and nanoscience (Huang and Pattillo [9], Foster and Harland [10], Svensek and Podgornik [11]). …”