Mechanical behavior of gallium nitride nanotubes under combined tension-torsion: An atomistic simulation

Abstract

The tensile mechanical behavior of single crystalline gallium nitride (GaN) nanotubes under combined tension-torsion is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations with an empirical potential. The simulation results show that a small torsion rate (<0.010degps−1) does not affect the tensile behavior of GaN nanotube, i.e., the nanotubes show brittle properties at low temperatures; whereas at high temperatures, they behave as ductile materials. However, the failure stress decreases with increasing rate of torsion above 0.010degps−1, and the nanotube fails in a different manner. The torsion rate has no effect on the elastic properties of GaN nanotubes.