Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Carbon and Boron Nitride nanotubes: Tensile and Compressive Behavior

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, the mechanical properties of Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Boron Nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are studied systematically by using molecular dynamics simulations. CNTs are considered semi-metallic, whereas the BNNTs, of the large band gap, are considered to be insulators, regarding the difference in the electrical properties of CNTs and BNNTs; comparing the mechanical properties of both nanotubes offers great scientific significance for their prospective applications. The simulations were carried out with the help of a Large-scale atomic/molecular massively parallel simulator (LAMMPS) and were based on the Airebo and Tersoffs force fields for C-C interaction in CNTs and B-N interaction in BNNTs, respectively. Failure behavior of armchair and zigzag CNTs and BNNTs under tensile and compressive loading has been predicted and observed that for both the nanotubes the armchair nanotubes showed higher tensile and compressive strength as compared to zigzag nanotubes. The maximum tensile and compressive strength for CNTs is 205 GPa and 35.62 GPa respectively and for BNNTs are 159 GPa and 24.81 GPa respectively. CNTs are identified as axially stronger and stiffer than BNNTs for the same diameter under identical loading conditions.