The effect of small scale on the pull-in instability of nano-switches using DQM

Abstract This paper deals with the study of the small scale effect on the pull-in instability of nano-switches subjected to electrostatic and intermolecular forces. Using Eringen’s nonlocal elasticity theory, the nonlocal Euler–Bernoulli beam model is derived through virtual displacement principle. The static governing equation which is extremely nonlinear due to the intermolecular and electrostatic attraction forces is solved numerically by differential quadrature method. The accuracy of the present method is verified by comparing the obtained results with the finite difference method and those in the literatures and very good agreement is obtained. Finally a comprehensive study is carried out to determine the influence of nonlocal parameter on the pull-in instability characteristics of cantilever and clamped–clamped nano-beam and some conclusions are drawn.