Displacement time history analysis and radial wave propagation velocity in pressurized multiwall carbon nanotubes

In this paper, radial wave propagation velocity in multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is investigated using continuum model as the multiple elastic isotropic shells. The effect of van der Waals forces between tubes is taken into account as a nonlinear function of inter-layer spacing of MWCNTs. To solve the governing equations, the finite element method is used. By using time history of displacement, the mean velocity of radial wave propagation from outermost tube to innermost tube is calculated. Also, the effects of geometric parameters such as inner radius and thickness of nanotubes on dynamic behaviors are investigated. Furthermore, dynamic load factors for each tube of MWCNTs are calculated using presented solution. The effects of hydrostatic pressures applied on bounding surfaces of MWCNTs on radial wave propagation are discussed. The presented solution and results are verified by comparing against those reported in published literatures.