Mechanical Scaling: Cantilevers, Stress, and Dynamics

This lecture covers the fundamental concepts of mechanical scaling in micro and nanosystems, focusing on cantilevers. It discusses the effect of strain, strain gradient, and flexural vs bulk modes in cantilevers. The instructor explains the relationship between surface stress, strain, and gravity in cantilevers, emphasizing the importance of stress gradients. The lecture also delves into the dynamics of cantilevers, highlighting the sensitivity to acceleration and the significance of size in the first mode of cantilever operation. Additionally, it explores the impact of stress and stress gradients on cantilever behavior, including the differences between singly-clamped and doubly-clamped cantilevers. The presentation concludes with a discussion on non-linear effects in MEMS cantilevers, addressing material and geometrical non-linearities.