Large displacement of a static bending nanowire with surface effects

Nanowires are widely used as building blocks of micro/nano devices, such as micro-sensors, probes, transistors and actuators in micro/nano-electro-mechanical systems (M/NEMS) and biotechnology. In this study, we investigated the large deformation behavior of a nanowire in consideration of its surface effects (surface elasticity and residual surface stress). For nanowires of large displacements with different boundary conditions, we established the governing equation set in combination with the residual surface stress and surface elasticity. Then a computer program of shooting method by using the commercial software MathCAD was developed to solve the boundary value problem numerically. Furthermore, the influences of surface effects on the large and infinitesimal deformation of the nanowires were quantitatively compared. These findings are beneficial to understanding the mechanism of the surface effects, and can also provide some inspirations to characterize the mechanical properties of nano-materials, and engineer new micro/nano-scaled devices. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.