Embedding Effect on the Mechanical Stability of Pressurised Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract EN

We elaborate on the cross-sectional deformation of carbon nanotubes embedded into a self-contracting host medium.

The continuum elastic approach is used to formulate the mechanical energy of both the embedded nanotubes and the self-contracting outer medium with finite thickness.

Our formula allows us to evaluate the critical radial pressure applied on the interface between the embedded nanotube and the outer contracting medium as well as the deformation mode that arises immediately above the critical pressure.

An interesting mechanical implication of the embedding effect, that is, the power-law dependence of the critical pressure on the elasticmodulus of the medium, is deduced by the theoretical approach established.