Surface effects on axial buckling of nonuniform nanowires using non-local elasticity theory

The non-local elasticity theory is used to study the buckling behaviour of a nonuniform nanowire with consideration of surface effects. An analytical expression for the calculation of critical buckling load of the nanowire is obtained. In addition, the Rayleigh-Ritz method is used to analyse the influences of surface and nanolocal effects on the critical buckling load of the nonuniform nanowire. Results show that the surface effects are more significant for a slender nanowire with a higher diameter ratio. The critical buckling load increases with decreasing non-local parameter.