  Inspired by some recent experiments and numerical works related to
nanoresonators, we perform classical molecular dynamics simulations to
investigate the thermal expansion and the ability of the device to act as a
strain sensor assisted by thermally-induced vibrations. The proposed model
consists in a chain of atoms interacting anharmonically with both ends clamped
to thermal reservoirs. We analyze the thermal expansion and resonant frequency
shifts as a function of temperature and the applied strain. For the transversal
modes the shift is approximately linear with strain. We also present analytical
results from canonical calculations in the harmonic approximation showing that
thermal expansion is uniform along the device. This prediction also works when
the system operates in a nonlinear oscillation regime at moderate and high
temperatures.
