Stress and strain measurements at the atomic scale were required in order to study the effect of inhomogeneities in nanotube-based structures. Three different stress measurements at the atomic scale, and strain measurements as energetically conjugate quantities, were used. These measurements were validated for defect-free nanotubes and were then used to study the mechanics of 5-7-7-5 topological defects in various single-wall nanotubes. It was observed that there was a decrease in the load-carrying capacity in the defected region, and this decrease could be attributed to changes in the kinetics and kinematics in the vicinity of the defect.

Local Elastic Properties of Carbon Nanotubes in the Presence of Stone-Wales Defects. N.Chandra, S.Namilae, C.Shet: Physical Review B, 2004, 69[9], 941011-2