Here, (10,0) zig-zag nanotubes and (6,6) armchair nanotubes were considered in order to investigate the effects of randomly distributed vacancy defects upon the mechanical behavior of single-walled carbon nanotubes. A spatial Poisson point process was used to locate vacancy defects randomly on nanotubes. Atomistic simulations indicated that the presence of vacancy defects reduced nanotube strength but improved nanotube bending stiffness. Studies of nanotube torsion indicated that vacancy defects prevented nanotubes from being used as torsion springs.

Mechanical Behaviors of Carbon Nanotubes with Randomly Located Vacancy Defects. W.Hou, S.Xiao: Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2007, 7[12], 4478-85