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On Saint-Venant Principle for Carbon Nanotubes

On Saint-Venant Principle for Carbon Nanotubes

Thursday 18/09/2025
  • Eyal Lerman
  • This work is towards an M.Sc. degree under the supervision of Prof. David Durban and Dr. Baruch Karp, The Stephen B. Klein Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Technion
  • Classroom 165, ground floor, Library, Aerospace Eng.
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  • The Stephen B. Klein Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at the Technion
  • Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
  • The talk will be given in Hebrew
Saint-Venant Principle (SVP), a central principle in both elasticity theory and structural mechanics, states that localized self-equilibrating loads create stress and strain fields that decay with distance from the loaded region. However, while well established for macroscopic homogeneous structures, its relevance at the nanoscale is less certain. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)—with their exceptional mechanical properties and slender cylindrical shape provide a unique framework to examine the validity of SVP for elastic structures at the nanoscale.
This research studies the validity of SVP in CNTs subjected to localized axial loading. Analysis is within the framework of linear elastic stability theory in conjunction with the nature of nanoscale response. Mathematical models are developed for representative configurations such as concentric CNT-like beams embedded in elastic media, systems with unequal radii, and simultaneous buckling of multilayer arrangements.
Findings indicate that localized self-equilibrating loads applied to CNT systems induce axially decaying (exponentially) stress and strain fields, though the rate and nature of axial decay depend strongly on geometry, constitutive response, and interlayer interactions. These observations suggest that a modified version of SVP applies at the nanoscale, advancing our understanding of stress transfer in nanostructures and paving the way to future research. 
Eyal Lerman, 31, serves as a Major (Rav Seren) in the Israeli Air Force, where he heads the Fatigue and Structural Integrity group. Eyal is also a graduate student in the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, conducting research on the applicability of the Saint-Venant Principle to carbon nanotubes.

אייל לרמן, בן 31, משרת בדרגת רב סרן בחיל האוויר. אייל משרת כראש מדור התעייפות ומעקב תפעול פלטפורמות. אייל בוגר הפקולטה להנדסת אווירונאוטיקה וחלל בטכניון. במחקרו יציג אייל את מחקרו על תקפות עיקרון סאן ונאן בשפופרות ננו.

Light refreshments will be served before the lecture
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