Postbuckling of carbon nanotubes subjected to cyclic load

This study focuses on the postbuckling and the nonlinear behavior of single-walled carbon nanotubes subject to a cyclic axial compressive load through the use of molecular dynamic simulation based on the Tersoff-Brenner potential. It reveals the bifurcation behavior in the buckling process simulated with very fine time steps. In the whole cycle of nonlinear deformation, the carbon nanotubes exhibit the profound hysteretic behavior and the energy absorption ability. The molecular dynamics simulation indicates that the carbon nanotube behaves approximately as an ideal plastic spring when the cyclic strain is applied within the same postbuckling mode. In comparison, the theory of continuum mechanics gives a good prediction about the critical buckling strength, but only provides a rough estimation for the post-buckling behaviors.