On buckling and postbuckling behavior of nanotubes.

For the first time, the size-dependent thermal buckling and post-buckling behavior of nanotubes made of functionally graded materials (FGMs) with porosities is investigated by using a refined beam theory. This non-classical nanotube model is based on Eringen nonlocal elasticity model which incorporates the small scale effect. Two types of porosity distribution, including even and uneven distribution, are taken into account. The material properties of the nanotubes are temperature-dependent and vary in the radial direction. The size-dependent governing differential equations are derived by employing the generalized variation principle and solved by using a two-step perturbation method. The effects of small scale parameter, porosity volume fraction, the volume fraction index and boundary conditions on thermal buckling and post-buckling of FGM nanotubes are studied by several numerical examples. It can be concluded that the porosity volume fraction and small scale parameter change the buckling and post-buckling behavior of the nanotubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]