Dynamic elastic modulus of single-walled carbon nanotubes in different thermal environments

Abstract

Abstract This Letter reports the result of investigation on the effect of loading rate (strain rate) on mechanical properties of armchair and zigzag nanotubes in different thermal environments, based on the molecular structural mechanics model in which the primary bonds between two nearest-neighboring carbon atoms are treaded as dimensional 2-node Euler–Bernoulli beam considering the effect of environmental temperature on force constant values of the bonds stretching, bonds angle bending and torsional resistance. Nanoscale finite element simulations of the dynamic Young's modulus of single-walled carbon nanotubes under different strain rates and environmental temperatures reveal that the dynamic Young's modulus of the single-walled carbon nanotubes increases with the increase of strain rate, and decreases significantly with the increase of environment temperature. It is significant that the dynamic Young's modulus of zigzag nanotubes is more sensitive to strain rate and environmental temperature due to the tube chirality.