Continuum methods of mechanics as a simplified approach to structural engineering of nanostructures

Recent studies of potential components for nanomachines reveal that for a wide variety of structures, the rigidity of the structure is a key element in its proper performance. Vibrational analysis is an ideal way to study structural rigidity, but standard methods of molecular vibrational analysis are computationally prohibitive for nanostructures with large numbers of atoms. Herein, the vibration of nanotubes is used to demonstrate that continuum methods of vibrational analysis have potential utility in the engineering of nanostructures.