Effect of gap distance of carbon nanotube bundles on bending buckling analysis via a structural mechanics model

In this paper, the influence of various gap distances on the bending buckling behavior of bundle CNT is investigated via a structural model. To evaluate the buckling torques of carbon nanotube bundles, the effects of van-der Waals forces are further modeled using a nonlinear spring element. The effects of different interspatial gaps are studied for armchair nanotubes with various lengths. The structural mechanics simulations reveal that CNT bundles comprising longer SWCNTS will exhibit lower critical bending buckling moment. Results indicate that the size of the interspatial gaps plays a role in the bending buckling properties of CNT bundles.