Nonlinear static behaviors of nonlocal nanobeams incorporating longitudinal linear temperature gradient

The elastic parameters and the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of nanomaterials change with temperature. If the elastic modulus, the CTE, and the longitudinal linear temperature gradient are coupled, the longitudinal symmetry of the mechanical properties of nanobeams is broken. However, researchers have not yet to examine how this symmetry breaking affects the mechanical properties of nanobeams. This paper provides a new analysis of the modified thermoelastic beam model established by the nonlocal stress gradient theory. The present analysis incorporates the coupling of the longitudinal linear temperature gradient, elastic modulus, thermal expansion, and scale effect. Afterward, we apply the Galerkin method to explore the buckling, post-buckling, and transverse bending of a $\left(10,10\right)$ single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT). The results show that the linear temperature gradient induces the breaking of the nanobeam's longitudinal symmetry and then results in the coupling of the symmetrical and antisymmetrical weight functions of the deformations. While the linear temperature gradient marginally affects the symmetry of nanobeams, it significantly raises the buckling temperature and introduces the complexity of the post-buckling and transverse force bending. In addition, the integration of the linear longitudinal temperature gradient, elastic modulus, and nonlocal effect more significantly affects nanobeams' mechanical properties than individual factors.