Current Applied Physics 13 (2013) 107e120

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Current Applied Physics

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/cap

Application of elastically supported single-walled carbon nanotubes for sensing

arbitrarily attached nano-objects
Keivan Kiani a, *, Hamed Ghaffari a, Bahman Mehri b, c
a

Department of Civil Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Chalous Branch, P.O. Box 46615-397, Chalous, Mazandaran, Iran
Department of Mathematical sciences, Ghiaseddin Jamshid Kashani University, Abiek, Qazvin, Iran
c
Department of Mathematical sciences, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
b

a r t i c l e i n f o

a b s t r a c t

Article history:
Received 18 May 2012
Received in revised form
19 June 2012
Accepted 26 June 2012
Available online 7 July 2012

The potential application of SWCNTs as mass nanosensors is examined for a wide range of boundary
conditions. The SWCNT is modeled via nonlocal Rayleigh, Timoshenko, and higher-order beam theories.
The added nano-objects are considered as rigid solids, which are attached to the SWCNT. The mass
weight and rotary inertial effects of such nanoparticles are appropriately incorporated into the nonlocal
equations of motion of each model. The discrete governing equation pertinent to each model is obtained
using an effective meshless technique. The key factor in design of a mass nanosensor is to determine the
amount of frequency shift due to the added nanoparticles. Through an inclusive parametric study, the
roles of slenderness ratio of the SWCNT, small-scale parameter, mass weight, number of the attached
nanoparticles, and the boundary conditions of the SWCNT on the frequency shift ratio of the rst exural
vibration mode of the SWCNT as a mass sensor are also discussed.
2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords:
Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)
Vibration
Nanomechanical sensor
Nonlocal continuum-based beam models
Meshless method

1. Introduction
The remarkable properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have
been brought a wide range of applications for them including
nanouidic conveying [1e4], drug delivery [5e7], hydrogen storage
[8e11], and nanosensors [12e15]. To date, vibration characteristics
of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been fairly well
examined via classical and nonlocal continuum models. The free
vibration and the induction of vibration in SWCNTs due to the
externally applied forces are also investigated by many researchers.
Free vibration of SWCNTs [16e18], their vibrations due to moving
inside uids [19e21] and nanoparticles [22e27], dynamical loads
[28,29], and magnetic elds [30e32] have been theoretically
studied.
The high ratio of elasticity modulus of CNTs to their mass
density is suggesting highly effective nanostructures as resonators
of giga- or even tera-hertz bending frequencies [33e36]. Such
a brilliant characteristic of CNTs and SWCNTs as well, is the major
reason for that the vibration of such nanostructures has been in
focus of attention of various scientic disciplines. It implies that
SWCNTs would be also excellent nanomechanical sensors since

* Corresponding author. Tel.: 98 191 2223796; fax: 98 191 2220536.

E-mail addresses: k_kiani@iauc.ac.ir, keivankiani@yahoo.com (K. Kiani).
1567-1739/$ e see front matter 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cap.2012.06.023

many attached nano-sized particles can change their resonant

frequencies. Therefore, the applicability of SWCNTs as physical
nanosensors has been investigated theoretically [37e45] and
experimentally [46e48] as well. Some inclusive review studies
regarding chemical, physical, and biological sensors based on CNTs
could be found in the literature [49e53]. Recently, the potential
application of graphene sheets in detecting gas atoms has been
numerically investigated [54].
A brief review of the literature reveals that the conducted theoretical works on nanotubes as nanosensors were limited to some
special cases. For example, a slender SWCNT based nanomechanical
sensor with clamped-free boundary conditions and an added mass
at its tip [41,46], or a slender SWCNT with clamped-free/
clampedeclamped conditions and a mass at its tip/midspan point
[39,40,42], or a slender boron-nitride nanotube for sensing nano-bio
objects [55], or a stocky clamped-free SWCNT as a nanosensor with
a mass at its tip [56,57]. Further, most of the undertaken works were
based on the classical continuum mechanics [41,42,46] which may
not accurately interpret the vibration mechanisms of such nanoscale
structures for sensing nanoparticles. Such lack of knowledge
regarding stocky SWCNTs-based nanomechanical sensors encouraged the author to investigate the problem in a more general
framework: nonlocal elastically supported stocky SWCNTs for sensing
arbitrarily attached nanoparticles (for more awareness regarding the
application of nonlocal continuum theories in modeling CNTs and

108

K. Kiani et al. / Current Applied Physics 13 (2013) 107e120

graphenes, the readers are refereed to Ref. [58]). In the present work,
an efcient meshless technique, namely reproducing kernel particle
method (RKPM), is employed. This numerical scheme was developed by Liu and his coworkers [59e61] at Northwestern university
in the last decade of twentieth century. In this numerical technique,
the spatial domain is discretized using particles. Each particle has its
own numerically constructed shape functions. The shape functions
are evaluated according to the chosen window and base functions
for each problem. In contrast to the nite-element method (FEM),
the magnitudes of the RKPM shape function of a particle generally
do not vanish at its surrounding particles; thereby, special treatments should be implemented for satisfaction of essential boundary
conditions. Furthermore, the shape functions of RKPM possess
higher continuity in compare to those of FEM. This matter would be
benecial in solving the problems suffer from moving boundaries,
sharply varied elds, and higher-order governing equations. To date,
the application of RKPM to many one- and two-dimensional mathematical-mechanical models has been led to fairly accurate results
[18,62e65].
Herein, the potential application of SWCNTs as nanosensors is
numerically explored in the context of the nonlocal continuum
theory of Eringen. Using nonlocal beam theories and an efcient
numerical scheme, the equations of motion of a SWCNT with
attached nanoparticles are constructed in both strong and weak
forms. The alteration to the rst exural resonant frequency due to
the added nanoparticles is studied by the proposed nonlocal beam
models. The effects of the important parameters on the practicability of SWCNTs as nanomechanical sensors as well as the capabilities of the proposed models in capturing their resonant
frequencies are also of interest. It is hoped that the obtained results
in this article could provide new insights to the researchers who are
conducting theoretical and experimental works on SWCNTs as
nanomechanical sensors.

Its interaction with the surrounding medium is modeled through

the lateral and rotational continuous springs whose constants are
denoted by Kt and Kr, respectively. In order to investigate the
problem for a more general form of boundary conditions, both
ends of the ECS are attached to the laterally and rotationally
pointed springs. The constants of such lateral and rotational
springs are represented by Kz(xk) and Ky(xk);k 1,2, respectively,
where x1 0 and x2 lb. The change of resonant frequencies of
the SWCNT due to addition of nanoparticles as well as the role of
inuential parameter on such a fact is the main goal of this
research work. For this purpose, the ECS is modeled according to
the nonlocal Rayleigh beam theory (NRBT), nonlocal Timoshenko
beam theory (NTBT), and nonlocal higher-order beam theory
(NHOBT). Both the lateral and rotational inertial effects of the
attached nanoparticles are incorporated into the governing
equations of each model.
In the following parts, the explicit forms of governing equations
of SWCNTs as nanomechanical sensors are derived based on the
theories of nonlocal Rayleigh beam (NRB), nonlocal Timoshenko
beam (NTB), and nonlocal higher-order beam (NHOB). Since nding
an appropriately analytical solution to such equations are not an
easy task, particularly when studying of the problem for a more
general boundary condition is of interest, an efcient numerical
scheme is exploited.
3. Modeling SWCNT-based mass sensor via NRBT
3.1. Governing equations
The explicit expressions of the equations of motion of a nanotube structure with attached masses is of concern in the context of
the NRBT. The governing equation in terms of nonlocal bending
moment, Mbnl R , and transverse displacement of the SWCNT, wR, is
as

2. Assumptions and denition of the problem

Consider an ECS pertinent to the SWCNT of length lb as illustrated in Fig. 1. It is assumed that the SWCNT contains Np nanoparticles which are perfectly attached to the nanotube structure.
It implies that no movement or separation of nanoparticles would
occur during free vibration. The nanoparticles are considered as
rigid solid objects. It is also assumed that the distance between
each two nanoparticles is large enough that no atomic bond
between them exists. The position, mass weight, and mass
moment of inertia of the ith nanoparticle are represented by xpi,
Mpi, and Ipi, respectively. The SWCNT is embedded in an elastic
medium and experiences an initially axial force of magnitude Nb.

R  Ib w
R
rb Ab w
;xx

 Nb wR;x

2

X
k1

;x

Np

X

R  Ipi w
R
Mpi w

i1

;xx

 
R


d x  xpi  Mbnl

;xx

Kt wR  Kr wR;xx


Kz xk wR  Ky xk wR;xx dx  xk 0;

where rb is the density, Ab is the cross-sectional area, Ib is the

second inertia moment of the cross-section of the ECS, d denotes
the Dirac delta function, and the over dot sign represents the
differentiation with respect to time. Based on the nonlocal

Fig. 1. Schematic illustration of an elastically supported embedded ECS with attached nanoparticles.

K. Kiani et al. / Current Applied Physics 13 (2013) 107e120

continuum theory of Eringen [66e68], the nonlocal bending

moment within the ECS modeled based on the NRBT is simply given
by

Mbnl

R

R
e0 a2 Mbnl

;xx

Eb Ib wR;xx ;

1
T t
2

Mbnl

R

"

Mpi w

i1
R

Kt w

(2)

R Ib w
R
rb Ab w
;xx

R
Ipi w
;xx

Kr wR;xx

R dwR;x rb Ib w
R
dwR rb Ab w
;x

dw Kz xk w

k1

Kt wR  Kr wR;xx

kz xk w

Np

X

dx

(5a)

i1

2

X

Zlb h
R




2 i
wR;xx x; t Mbnl x; t  Nb wR;x x; t
dx

;x

ky xk wR;xx

2

1X

k1

2


2 
Kz xk wR xk ; t Ky xk wR;x xk ; t
;

(5b)

#
by substituting Eq. (3) into Eqs. (5a) and (5b), employing Hamlitons
principle, and taking the required integration by parts, the variational form of the governing equation of the SWCNT-based mass
sensor based on the NRBT is obtained as follows

dxxk ;

 

R dwR;x Ipi w
R d x  xpi dwR;xx Eb Ib wR;xx dwR;x Nb wR;x dwR Kt wR dwR;x Kr wR;x
dwR Mpi w
;x

dwR;x Ky xk wR;x

k1

2 i

 



d xxpi  Nb wR;x

2

X

Zlb (

Zlb


2
2 i
1 h
R
Kt w x; t Kr wR;x x; t
dx

(3)

Np



2
2 
 R

1X
_ xpi ; t Ipi w
_ R;x xpi ; t
Mpi w
;
2

1
U t 
2
R

k1

2

X

i1

Eb Ib wR;xx e0 a2
Np

X

2
rb Ab w_ R x; t Ib w_ R;x x; t

where a denotes an internal characteristic length, e0 is determined

by comparing the predicted dispersion curves with those of
another atomic model, and e0a is called small-scale parameter. By
combining Eq. (1) and Eq. (2),

Zlb

109

"

dx  xk  e0 a


Kz xk wR  Ky xk wR;xx dx  xk

R  Ib w
R
rb Ab w
;xx

dwR;xx
#)

Np

X

R  Ipi w
R
Mpi w

;xx

i1

 



d x  xpi  Nb wR;x

;x

dx 0:
(6)

substitution of Eq. (3) into Eq. (1) leads to the governing equation of
a SWCNT-based mass sensor according to the NRBT as in the
following form

R  Ib w
R
R  Ib w
R
rb Ab w
 e0 a2 rb Ab w

;xx
;xx
;xxxx
 Ipi

R
w

;xx



d x  x pi

;xx

Eb Ib wR;xxxx

Nb wR;x

R  Ipi w
R
Mpi w

i1

2 h





X
Kz xk wR dx  xk  e0 a2 wR dx  xk

k1

Np

X

;x

 e0 a


;xx

The only unknown of the problem is now discretized in

PNP w
R
the spatial domain as: wR x; t
I 1 fI xwI t, where NP is
the total number of the RKPM particles, fw
I x represents the

;xx

Nb wR;x

Np

 
X

 R 

d x  xpi ;xx
d x  xpi  e0 a2
Mpi w

;xxx

i1





Kt w  e0 a2 wR;xx  Kr wR;xx  e0 a2 wR;xxxx
R


 Ky xk wR;xx dx  xk  e0 a2 wR;xx dx  xk

i
;xx

0:
(4)

3.2. Application of RKPM to the NRB model

The kinetic energy, TR(t), and the elastic strain energy, UR(t), of
an embedded nanotube structure with attached nanoparticles
according to the NRBT could be expressed by

RKPM shape function pertinent to the Ith RKPM particle, and

wRI t denotes the nodal parameter value of the Ith RKPM
particle pertinent to the NRB. For more convenience in analyzing
of the problem, the following dimensionless parameters are
dened

110

K. Kiani et al. / Current Applied Physics 13 (2013) 107e120

s
x pi
Mpi
x
wR
1 Eb Ib
e a
l
l
R
x ; xpi ; w
t; m 0 ; l b ; Mpi
; s 2
; lpi b ;
r
r
lb
l
lb
lb
A
r
rpi
lb
b b
b
b
b A b lb
Kz l3b R
Kt l4b
Kr l2b
Nb l2b
Ky xk lb R
R
R
R
Kz
; K y xk
; Kt
; Kr
; Nx
;
Eb Ib
Eb Ib
Eb Ib
Eb Ib
Eb Ib

where rb and rpi represent the radius of gyration of the crosssection of the ECS and the ith attached nanoparticle, respectively.
By introducing the dimensionless quantities in Eq. (7) to Eq. (6), the
dimensionless equations of motion of the SWCNT with attached
nanoparticles based on the NRBT are obtained as
R

Mb wR;ss Kb wR 0;

Mb

IJ

2 w w
2 w
w
w
2 w
fw
I fJ l fI;x fJ;x  m fI;xx fJ  l fJ;xx



Np
X
i1

;x

Ky xk q dx  xk 0;

(11a)

i1

T






T d x  xpi  Qbnl
Mpi w
 Nb wT;x
Kt wT

2
X

;x

;x

Kz xk wT dx  xk 0;

(11b)

k1






2 w
w
w
M pi fw
I xpi fJ xpi lpi fI;x xpi fJ;x xpi






2 w
fw
;
m2 fw
J xpi  lpi fJ;xx xpi
I;xx xpi

Np
P

dx

T

T


T 
q d x  xpi  Qbnl Mbnl Kr qT
Ipi

k1

T
rb Ab w
Z1

i1
2
X

(8)

where

Np
P

rb Ib q

(7)

(9a)

Z1

h Ri



R
w
w w
w
2 w
fw
dx
Kb
I;xx fJ;xx N b fI;x fJ;x m fI;xx fJ;xx

where wT, qT, Qbnl T , and Mbnl T are the deection, the deformation
angle, resultant shear force, and the resultant bending moment
within the ECS based on the NTBT, respectively. According to the
nonlocal continuum theory of Eringen [66,67], the nonlocal resultant shear force and bending moment within the ECS are as,

IJ

Qbnl

T

T
e0 a2 Qbnl

;xx


T
ks Gb Ab wT;x  q ;

(12a)

Z1





R
R
w
w w
w
2 w
2 w
dx
K t fw
I  m fI;xx fJ K r fI;x fJ;x m fI;xx fJ;xx

2

X


R
w
2 w
K z xk fw
I xk  m fI;xx xk fJ xk

k1


R
w
w
2 w
;
K y xk fw
I;x xk fJ;x xk m fI;xx xk fJ;xx xk
wR s < wR1 s; wR2 s; .; wRNP s>T :

(9b)
(9c)

In order to determine the natural frequencies of the SWCNTR

~ R0 ei6 s where
based
mass
sensor, it is assumed that wR s w
p

R
~
i 1 and w0 is a vector represents the nodal parameter values
of the RKPM particles associated with the initial deection of the
nanosensor, and 6R denotes the dimensionless exural frequency
of the nanosensor. By substituting this relation into Eq. (8),

i
 2 R
R
~ R0 0;
 6R Mb Kb w

(10)

by solving the set of eigenvalue equations in Eq. (10), the dimensionless natural frequencies of the SWCNT-based mass sensor are
obtained based on the hypotheses of the NRBT.

Mbnl

T

T
e0 a2 Mbnl

4.1. Governing equations

Herein, realizing the characteristics of free transverse vibration
of a SWCNT with attached nanoparticles is of concern in the
framework of the NTBT. For this purpose, the governing equation of
the ECS with attached nanoparticles as a function of nonlocal
internal forces and displacements are expressed by

Eb Ib q;x ;

(12b)

in Eq. (12a), Gb denotes the shear modulus of elasticity in which

expressed by Gb Eb/(2(1n)) where n is the Poissons ratio of the
ECS associated with the SWCNT. The ks is the shear correction factor
of the cross-section of the ECS. By merging Eqs. (11) and (12), the
nonlocal internal forces within the ECS based on the NTBT are obtained as

Qbnl

T

T
ks Gb Ab wT;x  q

"
e0 a

T
rb Ab w

Np
X



T d x  x pi
Mpi w

i1
2



X
Kz xk wT dx  xk
 Nb wT;x Kt wT
;x

k1

#
;

(13a)

;x

"
T


T
T
2
nl
T  rb Ib
q
Mb
 Eb Ib q;x e0 a rb Ab w

;x

Np

X
i1

4. Modeling SWCNT-based mass sensor via NTBT

;xx



 T 
 
T d x  xpi  Ipi
q d x  xpi ;x
Mpi w

 Nb wT;x

;x

Kt wT  Kr q;x

#


 
T
 Ky xk q dx  xk
;
;x

2

X

Kz xk wT dx  xk

k1

13b

by substituting Eqs. (13a) and (13b) into Eqs. (11a) and (11b), the
explicit expressions of the governing equations of the SWCNTbased mass sensor according to the NTBT are obtained as

K. Kiani et al. / Current Applied Physics 13 (2013) 107e120

T
T
rb Ib q  e0 a2 q;xx

Np
X

T 

q d x  xpi
Ipi

Now the unknown elds of the ECS based on the NTBT are discretized
in
terms
of
RKPM
shape
functions
as
PNP w
PNP q
T
T
T
T
w x; t
and q x; t
By
I1 fI xwI t
I1 fI xqI t.
introducing such discretized forms of the unknown elds and the
following dimensionless quantities to Eq. (16),

i1



 
T
 e0 a q d x  xpi ;xx  ks Gb Ab wT;x  q
2 T

2


 X


T
T
T
T
Ky xk q dx  xk
 Eb Ib q;xx Kr q  e0 a2 q;xx


T
 e0 a2 q dx  xk

T
T  e0 a2 w
rb Ab w

;xx


;xx

wT T
1
T
w
; q q ; s
lb
lb

k1

0;

14a

Ky



T d x  xpi
Mpi w


 T 
 
d x  xpi ;xx  ks Gb Ab wT;xx  qT;x
 e0 a2 w











Kt wT  e0 a2 wT;xx
 e0 a2 Nb wT;x
 Nb wT;x
;x

2
X
k1


;xx

Eb Ib
;
ks Gb Ab l2b

(17)

the discrete form of the governing equations of the SWCNT-based

mass sensor according to the NTBT are obtained as follows

;xxx


Kz xk wT dx  xk  e0 a2 wT dx  xk

rb

Kt l2b
Nb
T
; Nb
;
ks Gb Ab
ks Gb Ab

Kt

i1

s
ks Gb
t; h

Ky
Kz lb
Kr
T
T
; K
; K
;
ks Gb Ab lb z
ks Gb Ab r
ks Gb Ab

Np
X

111

0:

Mb

(14b)

h T iww
i
T wq ( T )
Mb
7 w;ss
6 Kb
6
h T iqq 7
T
5
4 h T iqw
Q;ss
Mb
Kb

i
T ww
6 Mb
6h i
4
T qw

i
T wq 
  
Kb
7 wT
0
h T iqq 7
5 QT 0 ;
Kb
(18)

4.2. Application of RKPM to the NTB model

where
In the context of the NTBT, the total kinetic energy and the
elastic strain energy of the ECS with added nanoparticles, respectively, denoted by TT(t) and UT(t), are provided by

Z1

Np
h T iww





X
w
w
2 w w
fw
Mb

M pi f w
I fJ m fI;x fJ;x dx
I xpi fJ xpi
IJ

Zlb

1
T T t
2

U T t

1
2

 q;x x; t Mbnl

T



i1

(19a)

IJ

(15a)

Z1
h T iqq



l2 fqI fqJ m2 fqI;x fqJ;x dx
Mb

Np

 

T
1X
_ T xpi Ipi q_ xpi ;
Mpi w
2 i1

Zlb

w
m2 fw
I;x xpi fJ;x xpi

h 

T
2 i
2
rb Ab w_ T x; t Ib q_ x; t dx

Np
X
i1


T
x; t wT;x x; t  q x; t

q
q
q
2 q
l2
pi fI xpi fJ xpi m fI;x xpi fJ;x xpi



(19b)

T




2
2


 Qbnl x; t Nb wT;x x; t Kt wT x; t

h T iww Z1




T
w
w w
2 w w
fw
dx
Kb

I;x fJ;x N b fI;x fJ;x m fI;xx fJ;xx

2



2 X


2
T
Kz xk wT x; tdx  xk
Kr q x; t
k1

IJ

2 
T
Ky xk q x; tdx  xk
dx;

(15b)

dwT;x

 dq

"


ks Gb Ab wT;x

q

e0 a

T
rb Ab w
;x

2

X

2
X


T
w
w
2 w
K z xk fw
I xk fJ xk m fI;x xk fJ;x xk ;

k1

by substituting Mbnl T and Qbnl T from Eq. (13) into Eq. (15), and using
Hamiltons principle, after taking the necessary integration by parts,

T dwT Kt wT dwT;x Nb wT;x

rb dqT q rb Ab dwT w


T
w
w
2 w w
K t fw
I fJ m fI;x fJ;x fJ dx

ZIb (

Z1

(19c)

dqT Ky xk qT dwT Kz xk wT dx  xk dqT Kr qT

k1

Np
X

d x  xpi 
Mpi w

i1

Nb wT;x


;xx

Kt wT;x

2
X
k1

!#
Kz xk wdx  xk ;x

"
Np




X


 T 
 
T
T
T
T  rb Ib
T d x  xpi  Ipi
q  Nb wT;x Kt wT  Kr qT;x
q d x  xpi ;x
Mpi w
 dq;x  Eb Ib q;x e0 a2 rb Ab w
;x

2

X
k1

;x

 
T
Kz xk wT dx  xk  Ky xk q dx  xk

;x

!#)
dx 0:

i1

(16)

112

K. Kiani et al. / Current Applied Physics 13 (2013) 107e120

Z1
h T iwq
q
Kb
 fw
I;x fJ dx;

(19d)

IJ

"


H



H
2
H
H
a
j
Mbnl J2 jH

e

J

w
a
I2  aI4 j
4
0
;xx
;x
;x

;x

Z1
h T iqw
Kb
 fqI fw
J;x dx;

(19e)

IJ

i1

2
X

T
K y xk

fI xk fJ xk m2 fqI;x xk fqJ;x xk

(19f)

k1

wT s < wT1 s; wT2 s; .; wTNP s>T ;

T

Q s < q1 s; q2 s; .; qNP s>T :

H 

H
d x  xpi ;x I0 w
Ipi j
;xx

IJ

Np
X

(19g)

5.1. Governing equations

H








H
H
nl
2
H
k jH wH
Qbnl aPb;x
;x aJ4 j;xx  a J6 j;xx w;xxx
"
Np
X
 H 

d x  xpi ;x
H
e0 a2 I0 w
Mpi w
;x

Nb wH
;x


;xx

H
 a I6 w

The nal aim of this part is to provide the discrete equations of

motion of a SWCNT as a mass sensor according to the hypotheses of
the NHOBT. In such a context, the governing equations in terms of
nonlocal internal forces and deformation elds are stated by the
following equations
Np
 H X



H

H dx  xp  a2 I  aI w
I2  2aI4 a2 I6 j
Ipi j
6
4
i

Qbnl

2
X

H

H
Pbnl
;x

Kr j

(20a)

H
I0 w



H
H  a2 I w
H d x  xpi  a2 I6  aI4 j
Mpi w
 Qbnl
6

 a Pbnl

H
;xx
H

;xx

;x

i1

 Nb wH
;x


;x

Kt wH

2
X

H
;x

Kz xk wH dx  xk 0;

k1

where w and j denote the deection and the deection angle of

the ECS based on the NHOBT, respectively, and a 4=3D2o where
Do is the outer diameter of the ECS. According to the nonlocal
continuum theory of Eringen, the nonlocal resultant forces in Eqs.
(20a) and (20b) are expressed by

Mbnl

H

H
e0 a2 Mbnl

;xx


H
H
J2 jH
;x  aJ4 j;x w;xx ;

H


H
nl
nl
Qbnl aPb;x
e0 a2 Qbnl aPb;x
;xx






H
H
H
H
2
k j w;x aJ4 j;xx  a J6 j;xx wH
;xxx ;

(21a)

Z
Ab

Z
Z



rb zn dA; Jn
Gb 1  3az2 dA; In
Eb zn dA;
Ab

Kz xk w dx  xk

k1


;x

#
;

by substituting Eqs. (23a) and (23b) into Eqs. (20a) and (20b), the
explicit expressions of the nonlocal equations of motion are
obtained

(21b)

(22)

Ab

by mixing the governing equations in Eqs. (20a) and (20b) with the
nonlocal resultant forces in Eqs. (21a) and (21b), the nonlocal

i1




H 

H
H  e0 a2 w
d x  xpi ;xx a2 I6  aI4 w
 e0 a2 j
;x
;xxx








H
2
2
H
a
a
j
a
a

J
w

2
J

J

J
k jH wH
2
4
6
4
6
;xx
;x
;xxx
2


 X


Kr jH  e0 a2 jH
Ky xk jH dx  xk
;xx


 e0 a2 jH dx  xk

k1


;xx

0;

(24a)

Np


 X




H
H  e0 a2 w
H d x  x pi
Mpi w
I0 w
;xx

i1


H

 H 
 

 e a2 jH
d x  xpi ;xx  a2 I6  aI4 j
e0 a2 w
0
;xxx
;x






H
H
H
H  e0 a2 w
 k jH
a2 I6 w
;x w;xx  aJ4 j;xxx
;xx
;xxxx






2 H
H
H
a2 J6 jH
;xx w;xxx  Nb w;xx  e0 a w;xxxx
2


 X


Kz xk wH dx  xk
Kt wH  e0 a2 wH
;xx


e0 a2 wH dx  xk

where

;xx

2
X

;xx

k1
Np
X

 H


2

Kt wH
;x  a I6  aI4 j

(23b)

Ky xk jH dx  xk 0;

i1

Np



H
 X

H 
H
 e a2 j
d x  xp 
I2  2aI4 a2 I6 j
Ipi j
0
i

;x

H
Mbnl
;x

(23a)

;x

k1

;xxxx

i1

;x

i1



H d x  xpi
Mpi w

#


 
H
Kz xk w dx  xk Ky xk j dx  xk
;

2

X

5. Modeling SWCNT-based mass sensor via NHOBT

Np
X




H  Nb wH
Kt wH Kr jH
 aI4 w
;x
;x

Z1



h T iqq Z1

T
fqI fqJ hfqI;x fqJ;x dx K r fqI fqJ m2 fqI;x fqJ;x dx
Kb

resultant forces in terms of the deformation elds of the ECS based

on the NHOBT are obtained as,

k1


;xx

0;

(24b)

Eqs. (24a) and (24b) show the incorporation of the small-scale

parameter, interaction of the SWCNT with its surrounding
medium, and the initially axial force into the governing equations
of an elastically supported SWCNT as a nanomechanical sensor on
the basis of the NHOBT. In general, seeking an analytical solution to
these equations is not an easy task. Therefore, developing efcient
numerical schemes is of great advantageous for analyzing of the
problem for a wide range of boundary conditions.

K. Kiani et al. / Current Applied Physics 13 (2013) 107e120

5.2. Application of RKPM to the NHOB model

The total kinetic energy, TH, and the total stain energy, UH, of the
elastically supported SWCNT-mass sensor based on the NHOBT are
expressed by

T H t

1
2

Zlb h

2
2

H

H
_
_H
_
_H
I0 w
;x x; t I2 j x; t 2aI4 j x; t j x; t
0

H

2 i
2
_
_H
_H
dx
w
;x x; t a I6 j x; t w;x x; t
Np

 

H
1X
_ H xpi Ipi j_ xpi ;

Mpi w
2 i1

U H t

1
2

Zlb "

Kz xk l3b

K z xk
H

Kt


H
H
H
jH
;x x;tMb x;t j x;t w;x x;t

a2 J6

Kt l4b

a2 J6

; Nb

; Kr

a2

Kr I0 l4b

 ;
I2  2aI4 a2 I6 J6

Nb l2b

Ipi
 ;
; I 
a2 J6 pi
I2  2aI4 a2 I6 lb

(27)

the dimensionless discrete equations of motion of the SWCNTbased mass sensor according to the NHOBT are derived as follows

2



2 X


2
Kz xk wH x;tdx  xk
Kt wH x;t
k1

#


2 
H
Ky xk j x;tdx  xk
dx;

h H iww
Mb
h H ijw
Mb

i
H wj ( H )
Mb
w;ss

h H ijj
H
J;ss
Mb

h H iww
Kb
h H ijw
Kb

h H iwj
 H  
Kb
0
w
;
H
h H ijj
0
J
Kb
(28)

(25b)

nl H from Eqs. (23a) and (23b)

by substituting Mbnl H and Qbnl aPb;x
into Eqs. (25a) and (25b), and using Hamiltons principle,

where

Z1

h H iww



w
w w
2 w w
2
2 w w
fw
dx
Mb

I fJ g2 fI;x fJ;x m fI;x fJ;x g2 fI;xx fJ;xx

IJ

Zlb (

H
dwH I0 w

Np
X

 H



2
H d x  xpi dwH
Mpi dwH w
;x a I6  aI4 j

i1

 H
H
2 H
I2  2aI4 a2 I6 j
dwH
;x a I6 w dj
;x

Np
X

dwH
;xx
H

dj

aJ4 jH
;x

2
X

a

J6 jH
;x

wH
;xx



dw

Kz xk w dx  xk

k1
H

Ky xk j dx  xk dw Kt w dj Kr j

k1
H
dwH
;x Nb w;x

e0 a

dj

dwH
;x

"



I0 w
2

X
k1

Nb wH
;x




H  Nb wH
I0 w
;x
;x

;x

Kt w 

H
aI4 w
;xx

Z1


h H ijw
j
2 j w
Mb
 g26 fI fw
J;x m fI;x fJ;xx dx;
IJ

IJ

(29c)

0




j
j
m2 fI;x xpi fJ;x xpi ;

 
Kz xk wH dx  xk Ky xk jH dx  xk
;x

(29d)

IJ

Kr jH
;x

i1

h H iww Z1




H
w
w w
w w
2 w w
g23 fw
dx
Kb

I;x fJ;x fI;xx fJ;xx N b fI;x fJ;x m fI;xx fJ;xx

;x

(29b)

;xx

;x

IJ

Z1

Np





h H ijj
X
j
j
fjI fjJ m2 fjI;x fjJ;x dx
Mb

I pi fI xpi fJ xpi

H
2
2 H
Kt wH
;x Kr j;xx  a I6  aI4 j;xx  a I6 w;xxx
#
"
2




X
H

Kz xk wH dx  xk
e0 a2 djH
;x I2  aI4 j
H

Z1

h H iwj

j
2 w j
Mb
 g21 fw
I;x fJ m fI;xx fJ;x dx;

 H

k1

i1






w
w
2 w
;
Mpi fw
I xpi fJ xpi m fI;x xpi fJ;x xpi

Np
X

(29a)

i1

2
X

Ipi djHj









H k djH dwH
jH wH
 d x  xpi djH a2 I6  aI4 w
;x
;x
;x








2
H
J2  2aJ4 a2 J6 jH
djH
;x
;x  aJ4  a J6 w;xx

aJ4  a2 J6 2
aI4  a2 I6
; g6
;
2
a J6
I2  2aI4 a2 I6


kI0 l4b
J2  2aJ4 a2 J6 I0 l2b
2
2


g7 
; g 
;
I2  2aI4 a2 I6 a2 J6 8
I2  2aI4 a2 I6 a2 J6


aJ4  a2 J6 I0 l2b
Ky xk I0 l3b
H

 ;
g29 
; K y xk 2 
2
2
a I2  2aI4 a2 I6 J6
I2  2aI4 a I6 a J6
g24

(25a)


2
2


H
H
x;t QbH x;t Nb wH
 aPb;x
;x x;t Kr j x;t

kl2b
aI  a2 I
a2 I6 2
wH H
g
; j jH ; g21 4 2 6 ; g22
;

;
3
lb
a2 J6
I0 lb
I0 l2b

wH

113

Z1

#)
dx 0:

(26)
Let discretize the unknown deformation elds of the SWCNTbased
mass
sensor
according
to
the
NHOBT
as:
PNP w
PNP j
H
H
H
wH x; t
I 1 fI xwI t and j x; t
I 1 fI xjI t. By
substituting such discretized elds into Eq. (26) and introducing
the following dimensionless quantities to the resulting expression,

2
X


H
w
2 w w
K t fw
I fJ m fI;x fJ;x dx


H
w
w
2 w
K z xk fw
I xk fJ xk m fI;x xk fJ;x xk ;

k1

(29e)
Z1

h H iwj

j
2 w j
g23 fw
Kb

I;x fJ  g4 fI;xx fJ;x dx;

IJ

(29f)

114

K. Kiani et al. / Current Applied Physics 13 (2013) 107e120

Z1

h H ijw

2 j w
g27 fjI fw
Kb

J;x  g9 fI;x fJ;xx dx;

(29g)

IJ

Z1



h H ijj Z1

H
g27 fjI fjJ g28 fjI;x fjJ;x dx K r fjI fjJ m2 fjI;x fjJ;x dx
Kb

Table 2
The predicted dimensionless resonant frequency of the SWCNT as a nanomechanical
sensor using the proposed nonlocal beam theories for different number of RKPM
particles.
Case study

Nonlocal model

NP 11

NP 21

NP 51

NP 101

NRBT
NTBT
NHOBT
NRBT
NTBT
NHOBT
NRBT
NTBT
NHOBT

0.9937
1.0039
0.9269
0.7113
0.6961
0.6819
0.5847
0.5632
0.5437

0.9817
0.9783
0.9097
0.7029
0.6941
0.6798
0.5778
0.5603
0.5405

0.9747
0.9712
0.9048
0.6980
0.6938
0.6776
0.5738
0.5630
0.5353

0.9724
0.9704
0.9044
0.6964
0.6937
0.6757
0.5724
0.5630
0.5320

IJ

0
2
X

H
K y xk

k1

fI xk fJ xk m2 fjI;x xk fjJ;x xk

II

III

(29h)
H
H
T
wH s < wH
1 s; w2 s; .; wNP s> ;
H

J s < j1 s; j2 s; .; jNP s>T :

(29i)

6. Results and discussion

6.1. Validation of the proposed models
6.1.1. Convergence check
Consider a clamped-free SWCNT with a mass at its tip.
According to the work of Chowdhury et al. [40], the dimensionless
rst resonant frequency of the system based on the assumptions of
the classical Euler-Bernoulli beam theory could be analytically
1

4
evaluated as: UA
1 420=33 140M p1 . Such a resonant
frequency associated with the lateral vibration of the cantilever
SWCNT with a tip mass, is considered as a benchmark value for the
convergence check of the proposed numerical models. For this
purpose, three case studies are investigated according to the given
data in Table 1. The slenderness ratios of cases I, II, and III in order
are 231.7, 38.9, and 14.4 in which denoting a slender, fairly slender,
and stocky SWCNT, respectively. According to the above-mentioned
formulas, the resonant frequencies of the cases I, II, and III are
calculated as 0.9704, 0.6950, and 0.5713, respectively. The predicted dimensionless resonant frequency of the proposed numerical models are summarized in Table 2 for different number of
RKPM particles. Hereafter, the ith dimensionless natural frequency

:

of the SWCNT-based mass sensor is denoted by Ui and determined

2


1=4
:
:
rb Ab l4b u:
where ui is the ith
Eb Ib
by Ui
i
natural frequency of the nanosensor and [.] R or T or H. As it is
seen in Table 2, for all considered cases, the predicted results by the
NRBT are converging to the analytically calculated results as the
number of RKPM particles increases. In the case II, the discrepancies between the results of the NTBT/NHOBT and those of the
NRBT are decreasing with the number of RKPM particles; however,
the predicted results by such nonlocal shear deformable beam
theories do not approach to the analytically predicted values. It is
chiey related to the incorporation of the shear strain energy into
the total strain energy of the SWCNT with a tip mass. This matter is
more obvious in the case III.

Table 1
Material and geometry properties of the SWCNT as well as the mass weight of the
attached nanoparticle for different case studies.

6.1.2. Comparison of the obtained results

In the rst comparison study, the predicted rst four dimensionless frequencies of a clamped-free SWCNT with a mass at the
tip by the proposed numerical models as well as those of the
analytical solution by Mehdipour et al. [41] are provided in Table 3.
The mechanical and geometry properties of the ECS associated with
the SWCNT are as: lb 5500 nm, Do 33 nm, Di 18.8 nm,
Eb 32 GPa, and rb 1330 kg/m3. The results of Ref. [41] were
obtained analytically based on the local Euler-Bernoulli beam
theory. Moreover, the predicted results by the proposed numerical
models are given for NP 21 and e0a 2 nm. As it is obvious from
Table 3, the predicted results by the NRBT are close to those of
Ref. [41] for different levels of mass weight of the attached nanoparticle at the tip. Further, the discrepancies between the predicted
dimensionless frequencies by the NRBT/NTBT and those of Ref. [41]
decrease with vibration mode number. For all values of the attached
mass at the tip, the predicted results by the NRBT and those of the
NTBT are in line with those of Ref. [41].
In another examination, the predicted resonant frequencies by
the proposed models based on the NRBT and NTBT are compared
with those of experimentally obtained results by Wang et al. [46]
and the results of three-dimensional FEM by Joshi et al. [42]. The
rst resonant frequency of cantilevered SWCNTs without any
attached nanoparticle of the above-mentioned works are provided
for various SWCNTs in Table 4. The predicted results by the NRBT
and the NTBT are calculated using RKPM for NP 31 and
e0a 2 nm; however, for such lengthy SWCNTs, the effect of smallscale parameter on exural behavior of the SWCNTs would be
rationally negligible. As it is seen in Table 4, the predicted resonant
frequencies by the proposed numerical models are generally closer
to those of experimentally results of Wang et al. [46] in compare to
Table 3
Comparison of the predicted rst four dimensionless exural frequencies of a cantilevered SWCNT with a tip mass via the proposed numerical models with those of
Mehdipour et al. [41].
Mp1 (fg)

Approach

U1

U2

U3

U4

Ref [41].
NRBT
NTBT
Ref [41].
NRBT
NTBT
Ref [41].
NRBT
NTBT
Ref [41].
NRBT
NTBT
Ref [41].
NRBT
NTBT

1.8750
1.9199
1.9720
0.8815
0.8975
0.9162
0.7997
0.8141
0.8301
0.7457
0.7591
0.7748
0.7061
0.7188
0.7336

4.6941
4.8042
4.9394
3.9513
4.0438
4.1564
3.9432
4.0357
4.1483
3.9391
4.0316
4.1442
3.9366
4.0292
4.1417

7.8548
8.0367
8.2712
7.0785
7.4594
7.4594
7.0785
7.2429
7.4546
7.0760
7.2404
7.4519
7.0745
7.2389
7.4504

10.9955
11.2480
11.5909
10.2204
10.4557
10.7784
10.2170
10.4523
10.7749
10.2153
10.4506
10.7730
10.2143
10.4496
10.7718

20

30

40

Case study

Eb (TPa)

rb (kg/m3)

Dyo (nm)

Dyy
(nm)
i

lb (nm)

Mp1 (fg)

I
II
III

1.2
1.1
1.2

2500
2300
2400

33
29
24

18.8
10.5
14

2200
300
100

10
5
2

y yy: Do and Di in order are the outer and the inner diameters of the ECS.

50

K. Kiani et al. / Current Applied Physics 13 (2013) 107e120

Table 4
Comparison of the predicted resonant frequencies by the proposed nonlocal models
with those of Wang et al. [46] and Joshi et al. [42] for different SWCNTs with
:

:

clamped-free boundary conditions f1 u1 =2p.

Do (nm) Di (nm) lb (nm) Eb (GPa) Experimental FEM results RKPM
results [46]
[42] (MHz) results
(MHz)
(MHz)
NRBT NTBT
33
39
39
45.8
50
64

18.8
19.4
13.8
16.7
27.1
27.8

5500
5700
5000
5300
4600
5700

32
26.5
26.3
31.5
32.1
23

0.658
0.644
0.791
0.908
1.420
0.968

0.854
0.830
1.020
1.170
1.830
1.230

0.641
0.623
0.766
0.893
1.401
0.943

0.644
0.625
0.768
0.912
1.418
0.960

those of Joshi et al. [42]. In all cases, both NRBT and NTBT could
capture the results of Wang et al. [46] with accuracy lower
than 3.5%.
In another justication, the capabilities of the proposed models
in predicting the amount of change of the fundamental frequencies
of bridged and cantilevered SWCNTs are studied. In the case of
a bridged SWCNT (i.e., a SWCNT with CC boundary conditions), the
added masses of distributed length gmlb, are symmetrically placed
about the midspan point of the SWCNT. For the case of cantilevered
SWCNT, the attached masses are located at the end of the SWCNT
whose distributed length is identical to the previous case. In order
to examine the trend of the fundamental frequency of the SWCNT
in terms of gm, the calibration constant of mass, cm, is dened as
[69]

f0n
1 ;
fn
M
p
i
i1

cm PN
p

(30)

where f0n is the fundamental frequency of the SWCNT in the

absence of any attached mass, and fn denotes the fundamental
frequency of the SWCNT with attached masses. Using a local
version of Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, Adhikari and Chowdhury
[69] studied the shift in the exural fundamental frequencies of the
bridged and cantilevered SWCNTs due to distributed masses on
their surfaces via energy and molecular dynamic methods. The
predicted values of cm by the analytical solution in Ref. [69] as well
as those obtained from the proposed models are now provided in
Table 5. For RKPM analysis, 51 particles with equal distances from
the neighboring particles are used. The shape functions of the
RKPMs particles are constructed based on quadratic base function,
and exponential window function with dilation parameter equal to
3.2. According to Table 5, for both cantilevered and bridged SWCNTs
with attached masses, there is a reasonably good agreement
between the predicted results by the proposed models and those of
Ref. [69].
Table 5
Justication of the obtained fundamental frequencies for the cantilevered and
bridged SWCNTs with attached masses with those of Adhikari and Chowdhury [69].
Size of Evaluation of cm for cantilevered
Evaluation of cm for bridged
mass
SWCNTs
SWCNTs
(gm)
Ref [69]. NRBT NTBT
NHOBT Ref [69]. NRBT NTBT
NHOBT
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8

4.0000
3.4747
3.0008
2.5796
2.2123
1.8985
1.6363
1.4218
1.2492

4.0523
3.5001
3.0113
2.5829
2.2128
1.8983
1.6363
1.4222
1.2499

4.0470
3.4964
3.0088
2.5813
2.2118
1.8978
1.6361
1.4221
1.2498

3.9609
3.4329
2.9640
2.5516
2.1935
1.8877
1.6313
1.4203
1.2494

2.5222
2.4866
2.3839
2.2261
2.0308
1.8181
1.6075
1.4144
1.2481

2.5477
2.5075
2.3959
2.2300
2.0294
1.8141
1.6026
1.4095
1.2435

2.5374
2.4965
2.3856
2.2214
2.0231
1.8101
1.6006
1.4088
1.2435

2.4381
2.4023
2.3038
2.1565
1.9765
1.7807
1.5850
1.4024
1.2418

115

Since we are now condent about the calculations of the

proposed numerical models, we can proceed in parametric analysis
of the problem to explore the effects of inuential factors on the
frequency shift of the SWCNT-based mass sensor due to the addition of nanoparticles.
6.2. Numerical studies
From applied mechanics point of view, the key characteristic of
a SWCNT-based mass sensor is the change in natural frequencies of
the SWCNT. Since the lateral vibration of the nanosensor is of
concern in this study, we focus on the transform of or shift in the
natural exural frequencies of the SWCNT. Such a frequency shift
pertinent to the ith vibration mode of the SWCNT is dened by
Ri(1Ui)/U0i, called frequency shift ratio. In this relation, U0i
represents the dimensionless natural frequency of the SWCNTbased mass sensor pertinent to the ith vibration mode in the
absence of the attached nanoparticles (i.e., Mpi 0; wi 1,.,Np).
The so-called frequency shift ratio contains the information about
the change in the natural frequency of the SWCNT due to the
addition of nanoparticles. If the mass weight of the connected
particle to the SWCNT would be negligible in compare to the mass
weight of the SWCNT, with a good accuracy Ri z 0. If the mass
weight of the attached particle would be extremely large with
respect to the mass weight of the SWCNT, the natural frequencies of
the nanosensor approach zero, and thereby, Ri z 1.
In RKPM analysis of the problem, 11 uniformly distributed
particles in the length of the SWCNT with exponential window
function, linear base function, and dilation parameter equal to 3.2
are used. The dimensionless values of the constants of transverse
and rotational springs at both ends of the SWCNT for different
boundary conditions have been summarized in Table 6. Each
boundary condition has been represented by two letters. The rst
letter and the second one are, respectively, associated with the left
end and the right end boundary conditions of the SWCNT. The
letters S, C, Sf, and F are denoting a simple, clamp, shear-free, and
free end, respectively.
6.2.1. Effect of slenderness ratio on the frequency shift
In Fig. 2(a)e(f), the plotted results of the frequency shift ratio of
a SWCNT with an attached nanoparticle at its midspan point in
terms of slenderness ratio of the ECS are provided. The graphs are
based on the predictions of the proposed models for different
boundary conditions of the SWCNT as a sensor as well as various
levels of the mass weight of the attached nanoparticle (i.e., M p1
0.1, 0.2, and 0.3). As it is seen in Fig. 2(a)e(f), for low levels of the
slenderness ratio of the ECS, the NRBT could not predict the
dynamic behavior of the SWCNT as a nanosensor at all. Moreover,
the discrepancies between the predicted results by the NRBT and
those of the nonlocal shear deformable beam models generally
increase as the mass weight of the attached nanoparticle decreases,
irrespective of the boundary conditions of the SWCNT. The
discrepancies between the predicted results by various models
would commonly lessen with the slenderness ratio, irrespective of
the mass weight of the attached nanoparticle. For a fairly slender

Table 6
:
:
The values of K yi and K zi for different boundary conditions of the SWCNT.
SS
:
K zi 0
:
K zi 1
:
K yi 0
:
K yi 1

CC

SC

SfS

SfC

CF

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

108

108

108

108

108

108

108

10

108

116

K. Kiani et al. / Current Applied Physics 13 (2013) 107e120

R1

a 0.22
0.11
0

R1

b 0.365
0.02

0.02
0.15

R1

0.16

0.06

e 0.02
0.185
R1

35

0.19

c 0.35

0.2

20

35

0.11

0.11

0
0.365

20

35

0.02
0.35

20

35

0.02
0.15

20

35

35

0.02
0.185

20

35

35

0.02
0.25

20

35

35

0.02
5

0.02
0.35

20

35

0.02
0.15

20

35

0.02
0.185

20

35

20

35

20

35

0.08
20

35

0.09
20

35

0.06

0.08
20

20

0.16

0.06
20

0
0.365
0.19

0.16

0.09
0.02
5

0.22

0.19

0.08

f 0.025
R1

20

0.22

0.02
0.25
0.09

20

35

0.02
5

Fig. 2. Frequency shift ratio of the SWCNT with a mass at the midspan point as a function of slenderness ratio for different boundary conditions: (a) SS, (b) CC, (c) SC, (d) SfS, (e) SfC,
(f) CF; ((B)M p1 0:1, ()M p1 0:2, (6)M p1 0:3 ; (.) NRBT, (.) NTBT, () NHOBT; Kt Kr]Nb 0; e0a 2 nm).

SWCNT (i.e., l 35), frequency shift ratio of the nanostructure is

more obvious for the SWCNT with CC boundary conditions. In such
a case, as one moves from CC to SC, SS, SfS, then SfC, and nally CF
boundary conditions, the sensitivity of the rst exural frequency
of the SWCNT to the added nanoparticles decreases. Based on the
predicted results by the NHOBT for a very stocky SWCNT (i.e., l 5),
the SWCNT with CC boundary conditions has the most observable
frequency shift ratio in compare to other cases, irrespective of the
small-scale parameter. For such a case, the predicted R1 by the
NHOBT for SS and SC conditions are very close to each other.
Further, the predicted R1 by the NHOBT for CF, SfS, and SfC boundary
conditions are very close to each other. The sensitivity of the very
stocky SWCNT to the attached nanoparticle is roughly identical to
the studied case of fairly slender SWCNTs. As it is also obvious in
Fig. 2(a)e(f), the predicted results of R1 by the NTBT are generally
close to those of the NHOBT in most of the cases. In the cases of SS,
SC, and CF boundary conditions, the NRBT could predict the results
of the NHOBT with relative error lower than 10 percent for l > 22,
l > 20, and l > 12, respectively.
6.2.2. Effect of small-scale parameter on the frequency shift
The effect of the small-scale parameter on the frequency shift
ratio of the SWCNT is of particular importance in design of SWCNTs
as nanomechanical sensors. In Fig. 3(a)e(f), the frequency shift
ratio of the rst exural vibration mode of the SWCNT with l 10
under different boundary conditions is plotted in terms of the
small-scale parameter. In the cases of SS, CC, and SC boundary
conditions, both the NTBT and the NHOBT predict that the
frequency shift ratio commonly decreases with the small-scale
parameter (see Fig. 3(a)e(c)). In other words, the vibration sensitivity of the SWCNT due to the added mass would reduce as the
effect of the small-scale parameter becomes highlighted. A more

close scrutiny also reveals that the discrepancies between the

predicted results by the NTBT and those of the NHOBT are generally
lower than 10 percent. As it is observed in Fig. 3(a)e(c), the NRBT
shows ascending curves for the plots of R1 -e0a. As it was discussed
in the previous part, the predictions of the NRBT would not be
trustable for the nanotube with such a slenderness ratio. In the case
of SfS boundary conditions (see Fig. 3(d)), no obvious variation of R1
in terms of the small-scale parameter is detectable for the considered range of mass weight of the attached nanoparticle (i.e., 0:1 
Mp1  0:3). For the cases of SfS and CF boundary conditions, both
the NTBT and the NHOBT predict that the frequency shift ratio of
the rst vibration mode increases with the small-scale parameter.
Additionally, the rate of variation of the frequency shift ratio as
a function of the small-scale parameter intensies with the mass
weight of the attached nanoparticle (see Fig. 3(e) and (f)). In such
cases, the NRBT exhibits a descending behavior for the plots of R1
-e0a, in which would not be realistic at all.
6.2.3. Effect of mass weight of the attached nanoparticle on the
frequency shift
We are also interested in investigating the inuence of the mass
weight of the attached nanoparticle on the frequency shift ratio of
the nanotube under different boundary conditions as well as
various levels of the small-scale parameter. The predicted results by
various nonlocal beam models for a SWCNT with l 10 have been
demonstrated in Fig. 4(a)e(f). For all SWCNTs boundary conditions,
the frequency shift ratio of the rst vibration mode increases with
the mass weight of the attached nanoparticle. In the case of the
SWCNT under SS conditions with e0a 0 nm, both the NRBT and
the NTBT could track the predicted frequency shift ratio of the
NHOBT with accuracy lower than 5 percent for the studied range of
normalized mass weight of the attached nanoparticle (see Fig. 4(a)).