Derivation of finite element models of connected carbon nanotubes with heterojunctions

Abstract

After the discovery of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and their considerable applications, scientists have been interested to explore the properties of these outstanding nanomaterials in any field. Due to the different types of CNTs and different methods of analyses, the discovery of mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes are still in progress. One type of CNT which is very applicable in electronic field is one consisting of two connected CNTs with a heterojunction. Heterojunctioned CNTs are connected by an angular or conic junction. Simulation of CNTs in an analysis software is one way to find some of the mechanical properties of CNTs but for modeling of heterojunctions an algorithm should be considered. ConTub is an algorithm as well as online software for modeling these types of CNTs. In this project, different types of CNTs with heterojunction are created in ConTub then imported to MSC.Marc which is an analysis software, and some mechanical properties such as Young’s modulus, shear modulus, buckling behavior and natural frequency are investigated.