Effect of the Casimir Force on Buckling of a Double-Nanowire System with Surface Effects

Structural stability of a double-nanowire system with surface effects subjected to axial compressive forces is analyzed. Taking into account the Casimir force between the two nanowires, two coupled governing equations for buckling of a double-nanowire system are derived. For four typical end supports including simply-supported, clamped, cantilevered, and clamped-pinned double-nanowire systems, the characteristic equations are derived and the critical loads are determined for the out-of-phase in-plane buckling. Numerical results indicate that positive surface elasticity enhances the load-carrying capacity of the nanowires, and the reverse is also true. The Casimir force and residual surface tension always increase the critical loads.