Effects of strain and higher order inertia gradients on wave propagation in single-walled carbon nanotubes

• The modified strain gradient elastic shell model was developed.
• Numerical results showed good agreement with those of MD simulations.
• Effects of strain and inertia gradient parameters on dispersions were studied.
• The number of cut-off frequencies depends on the circumferential wave number.
• Asymptotic phase velocities versus gradient parameters were analytically derived.

Dispersion relation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is investigated. The governing equations of motion of SWCNTs are derived on the basis of the gradient shell model, which involves one strain gradient and one higher order inertia parameters in addition to two Lamé constants. The present shell model can predict wave dispersion in good agreement with those of molecular dynamic (MD) simulations available in the literature. The effects of two small scale parameters on the angular frequency and phase velocity in the longitudinal, torsional and radial directions are studied in detail. The numerical results show that the angular frequency and phase velocity increase with the increase of strain gradient parameter, whereas decrease with inertia gradient parameter increases. In addition, analytical expressions of the cut-off frequencies and asymptotic phase velocities are given. It is found that the number of cut-off frequencies is dependent on the circumferential wave number, and two asymptotic phase velocities exist for nonzero value of strain gradient parameter, while only one exists when the strain gradient parameter is excluded.