Nonlinear deformation processes and damage modes of super carbon nanotubes with armchair-armchair topology

The tensile deformations and fractures of super carbon nanotubes (SCNTs) with armchair-armchair topology are investigated by using the atomic-scale finite element method. SCNTs generated from carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with different characteristic aspect ratios are found to have different nonlinear behaviours under uniaxial tensions. Specifically, an SCNT with higher aspect ratio has three distinct stages: rotation, stretch and rupture, while an SCNT with lower aspect ratio has only two stages. This information may compensate for previous work and enrich our knowledge about Y-branched CNTs and SCNTs.