This book presents a comparative study on the static responses of the
Euler-Bernoulli beam governed by nonlocal theories, including the
Eringen's stress-gradient beam theory, the Mindlin's strain-gradient
beam theory, the higher-order beam theory and the peridynamic beam
theory. Benchmark examples are solved analytically and numerically using
these nonlocal beam equations, including the simply-supported beam, the
clamped-clamped beam and the cantilever beam. Results show that beam
deformations governed by different nonlocal theories at different
boundary conditions show complex behaviors. Specifically, the Eringen's
stress-gradient beam equation and the peridynamic beam equation yield a
much softer beam deformation for simply-supported beam and
clamped-clamped beam, while the beam governed by the Mindlin's
strain-gradient beam equation is much stiffer. The cantilever beam
exhibits a completely different behavior. The higher-order beam equation
can be stiffer or softer depending on the values of the two nonlocal
parameters. Moreover, the deformation fluctuation of the truncated order
peridynamic beam equation is observed and explained from the singularity
aspect of the solution expression. This research casts light on the
fundamental explanation of nonlocal beam theories in
nano-electromechanical systems.