Buckling Analysis of Vacancy-Defected Graphene Sheets by the Stochastic Finite Element Method

Abstract

Vacancy defects are unavoidable in graphene sheets, and the random distribution of vacancy defects has a significant influence on the mechanical properties of graphene. This leads to a crucial issue in the research on nanomaterials. Previous methods, including the molecular dynamics theory and the continuous medium mechanics, have limitations in solving this problem. In this study, the Monte Carlo-based finite element method, one of the stochastic finite element methods, is proposed and simulated to analyze the buckling behavior of vacancy-defected graphene. The critical buckling stress of vacancy-defected graphene sheets deviated within a certain range. The histogram and regression graphs of the probability density distribution are also presented. Strengthening effects on the mechanical properties by vacancy defects were detected. For high-order buckling modes, the regularity and geometrical symmetry in the displacement of graphene were damaged because of a large amount of randomly dispersed vacancy defects.