A Study into the Temperature and Size Effects in Nanostructures on Their Fracture under External Mechanical Loads

Abstract

The paper presents a molecular dynamics study into the temperature and size effects in nanostructures on their mechanical characteristics and fracture. The study shows that among the cross-sectional areas studied, the least one measuring ny × nz = 5 × 5 lattice cells is boundary for perfect nanostructures, and at larger areas, these characteristics tend to those of macrostructures. dor all systems considered, a linear decrease with increasing temperature is observed in Young's modulus and in critical applied stress at which fracture occurs.