Flow-induced flutter instability of cantilever carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes are finding significant application to nanofluidic devices. This work studies the influence of internal moving fluid on free vibration and flow-induced flutter instability of cantilever carbon nanotubes based on a continuum elastic model. Since the flow-induced vibration of cantilever pipes is non-conservative in nature, cantilever carbon nanotubes conveying fluid are damped with decaying amplitude for flow velocity below a certain critical value. Beyond this critical flow velocity, flutter instability occurs and vibration becomes amplified with growing amplitude. Our results indicate that internal moving fluid substantially affects vibrational frequencies and the decaying rate of amplitude especially for longer cantilever carbon nanotubes of larger innermost radius at higher flow velocity, and the critical flow velocity for flutter instability in some cases may fall within the practical range. On the other hand, a moderately stiff surrounding elastic medium (such as polymers) can significantly suppress the effect of internal moving fluid on vibrational frequencies and suppress or eliminate flutter instability within the practical range of flow velocity.