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Coupled Systems Mechanics Volume 6, Number 3, September 2017 , pages 273-286 DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/csm.2017.6.3.273 |
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Load transfer and energy absorption in transversely compressed multi-walled carbon nanotubes |
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Xiaoming Chen and Changhong Ke
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| Abstract | ||
| We present a simple and easy-to-implement lumped stiffness model to elucidate the load transfer mechanism among all individual tube shells and intertube van der Waals (vdW) interactions in transversely compressed multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Our model essentially enables theoretical predictions to be made of the relevant transverse mechanical behaviors of multi-walled tubes based on the transverse stiffness properties of single-walled tubes. We demonstrate the validity and accuracy of our model and theoretical predictions through a quantitative study of the transverse deformability of double- and triple-walled CNTs by utilizing our recently reported nanomechanical measurement data. Using the lumped stiffness model, we further evaluate the contribution of each individual tube shell and intertube vdW interaction to the strain energy absorption in the whole tube. Our results show that the innermost tube shell absorbs more strain energy than any other individual tube shells and intertube vdW interactions. Nanotubes of smaller number of walls and outer diameters are found to possess higher strain energy absorption capacities on both a per-volume and a per-weight basis. The proposed model and findings on the load transfer and the energy absorption in multi-walled CNTs directly contribute to a better understanding of their structural and mechanical properties and applications, and are also useful to study the transverse mechanical properties of other one-dimensional tubular nanostructures (e.g., boron nitride nanotubes). | ||
| Key Words | ||
| carbon nanotubes; transverse stiffness; load transfer; energy absorption | ||
| Address | ||
| Xiaoming Chen: Department of Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, New York 13902, U.S.A. Changhong Ke: 1) Department of Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, New York 13902, U.S.A. 2) Materials Science and Engineering Program, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, New York 13902, U.S.A. | ||
