Inelastic buckling of carbon nanotubes

A hybrid continuum mechanics and molecular mechanics model is developed in this letter to predict the critical strain of the inelastic buckling of armchair and zigzag carbon nanotubes (CNTS) with beamlike buckle shapes. The explicit analytical buckling results of the hybrid model are verified by molecular dynamics simulations via the MATERIALS STUDIO software package and by available research findings. The simplicity and effectiveness of the model make it possible to further predict and produce benchmark solutions for the size-dependent buckling results of CNTs. The hybrid model enables thorough understanding of the stability behavior of CNTs and is useful for their applications. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.