The elastic properties and tensile strength of single-walled carbon nanotubes, which contained topological and coordinated defects, under hydrostatic pressure were studied by using molecular dynamics simulations and ab initio electronic structure calculations. The Young’s moduli in both the axial direction and the radial direction were determined under various levels of hydrostatic pressure. It was found that the stiffness of the nanotubes changed, with the strain, in a graded manner. When the strain was greater than 0.10, the tubes softened. The strength at failure of the tubes was lowered by the presence of the defects.

Tensile Strength of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Defects under Hydrostatic Pressure. Y.Xia, M.Zhao, Y.Ma, M.Ying, X.Liu, P.Liu, L.Mei: Physical Review B, 2002, 65[15], 1554151-7