Fluid-solid interaction in electrostatically actuated carbon nanotubes

Abstract

This paper deals with investigation of fluid flow on static and dynamic behaviors of carbon nanotubes under electrostatic actuation. The effects of various fluid parameters including fluid viscosity, velocity, pressure and mass ratio on the deflection and pull-in behaviors of the cantilever and doubly clamped carbon nanotubes are studied. Furthermore, the effects of temperature variation on the static and dynamic pull-in voltages of the doubly clamped carbon nanotubes are reported. The results reveal that altering the fluid parameters significantly changes the mechanical and pull-in behaviors. Hence, the proposed system can be applied properly as a nano fluidic sensor to sense the various parameters of the fluid.