Investigation of pull-in behavior of circular nanoplate actuator based on the modified couple stress theory

Purpose This paper aims to present a nonclassical circular plate model subjected to hydrostatic pressure and electrostatic actuations by considering the modified couple stress theory and the surface elasticity theory. The pull-in phenomenon and nonlinear behavior of circular nanoplate are investigated. Design/methodology/approach The hybrid differential transformation method (DTM) and finite difference method (FDM) are used to approach the model. The DTM was first applied to the equation with respect to the time, and then the FDM was applied with respect to the radius. Findings The numerical results were in agreement with the numerical data in the previous literature. The effects of the length scale parameters, surface parameters, thermal stress, residual stress, hydrostatic pressure and electrostatic actuations of the nonclassical circular plate on the pull-in instability are investigated. The parametric study demonstrated that the pull-in behavior of the circular nanoplate was size dependent. Originality/value In this study, the results provide a suitable method in a nonclassical circular plate model. The length scale parameter had an obvious effect on the nonlinear behavior of the circular nanoplate.