Influence of surface energy on the non-linear pull-in instability of nano-switches

• Published in: International journal of non-linear mechanics Vol. 59; pp. 69 - 75
• Main Authors: Wang, K.F., Wang, B.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2014
• Subjects: Electric potential; Euler-Bernoulli beams; Geometrically non-linear; Instability; Nano-switch; Nanostructure; Nonlinearity; Pull-in voltage; Stability; Surface energy; Voltage; Pull-in voltage; Geometrically non-linear; Nano-switch; Surface energy
• ISSN: 0020-7462; 1878-5638
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnonlinmec.2013.11.004

This paper investigates the pull-in instability of a nano-switch under electrostatic and intermolecular Casimir forces. The analysis is based on the geometrically non-linear Euler–Bernoulli beam theory with consideration of the surface energy. Through differential quadrature method (DQM), the pull-in voltages of the nano-switch are obtained. Results show that the effect of surface energy and geometrically non-linear deformation on the pull-in voltage depends on the length, height and initial gap of the nano-switch. In addition, the effect of intermolecular Casimir force on the pull-in voltage weakens as the initial gap increases. •The non-linear pull-in instability of nano-switches with surface energy is studied.•Surface energy and geometrically non-linear strain are considered simultaneously.•The effect of surface energy on pull-in voltage depends on the size of nano-switch.•The effect of Casimir force on pull-in voltage weakens as the initial gap increases.