Stability Analysis of Boron Nitride Nanotubes via a Combined Continuum-Atomistic Model

A hybrid continuum-atomistic approach is developed to describe the buckling behavior of axially loaded chiral boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) with different boundary conditions. The set of the stability equations is established based on the nonlocal elasticity of Eringen and Donnell shell theory. The molecular mechanics is implemented in conjunction with the density functional theory (DFT) to obtain the effective in-plane and bending stiffnesses and Poisson’s ratio of BNNTs. The problem is analytically solved by the use of a direct variational method. The influences of geometrical parameters, nonlocal parameter and boundary conditions on the critical buckling loads are thoroughly explored.