Elasticity theory was developed in order to predict the energies of topological defects in carbon nanostructures. The theory was a simple, quantitatively accurate and transferable continuum approach to predicting defect formation energies that obviated the need for computationally expensive quantum mechanical methods. The theory thus had the potential to serve as the basis for thermodynamic and multi-scale modeling of the structural properties of carbon nanostructures.

Elasticity Theory of Topological Defects in Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene. E.Ertekin, M.S.Daw, D.C.Chrzan: Philosophical Magazine Letters, 2008, 88[2], 159-67