Simulations of the elastic response of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Using the Tersoff-Brenner potential we have performed molecular dynamics simulations of nanotubes under axial strain, analyzing both compression and stretching forces. These large-scale simulations were carried out on a MasPar massively parallel computer. The elastic response is investigated and expressions for various elastic constants are derived from the simulations. Typical failure modes are also shown and discussed.