title: Deflection of nanotubes in response to external atomic collisions.
abstract: The mechanical response of single-walled and multiwalled carbon nanotubes to a series of external Ar atom impacts is examined with classical molecular dynamics simulations. The extent to which the carbon nanotubes deform in the direction perpendicular to their axis is found to depend on the amount of momentum transferred during the collisions. The details of the mechanical response and recovery of the nanotubes after release are also found to depend on the nanotube configurations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-6400, USA.
authors.forename: Ki-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Keblinski
authors.forename: Susan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Sinnott
mesh_terms: D001128:Argon / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004548:Elasticity; D004735:Energy Transfer; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D009038:Motion; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D001128:Argon