Stress-induced variations in the stiffness of micro- and nanocantilever beams

The effect of surface stress on the stiffness of cantilever beams remains an outstanding problem in the physical sciences. While numerous experimental studies report significant stiffness change due to surface stress, theoretical predictions are unable to rigorously and quantitatively reconcile thes...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2012-06, Vol.108 (23), p.236101-236101, Article 236101
Main Authors: Karabalin, R B, Villanueva, L G, Matheny, M H, Sader, J E, Roukes, M L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Miniaturization - instrumentation
Miniaturization - methods
Models, Theoretical
Nanotechnology - instrumentation
Nanotechnology - methods
Stress, Mechanical
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Summary:The effect of surface stress on the stiffness of cantilever beams remains an outstanding problem in the physical sciences. While numerous experimental studies report significant stiffness change due to surface stress, theoretical predictions are unable to rigorously and quantitatively reconcile these observations. In this Letter, we present the first controlled measurements of stress-induced change in cantilever stiffness with commensurate theoretical quantification. Simultaneous measurements are also performed on equivalent clamped-clamped beams. All experimental results are quantitatively and accurately predicted using elasticity theory. We also present conclusive experimental evidence for invalidity of the long-standing and unphysical axial force model, which has been widely applied to interpret measurements using cantilever beams. Our findings will be of value in the development of micro- and nanoscale resonant mechanical sensors.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.108.236101