Tensile yielding of multiwall carbon nanotubes

The tensile yielding of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) has been studied using molecular-dynamics simulations and a transition state theory based model. We find a strong dependence of the yielding on the strain rate. A critical strain rate has been predicted above/below which yielding strain of a MWCNT is larger/smaller than that of the corresponding single-wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs). At an experimentally feasible strain rate of 1%/h and T=300 K, the yield strain of a MWCNT is estimated to be about 3%-4% higher than that of an equivalent single-wall CNT. This is in good agreement with recent experimental observations. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.