Modeling the Bending Behavior of Single-Walled Cubic Zirconia Nanotubes

Abstract

The bending behavior of single-walled cubic zirconia nanotubes (CZNTs) is studied in this paper based on a three-dimensional finite element analysis with molecular bonds modeled as structural beam elements and positioned at the joints of beams as substitute of atoms. In order to simulate the bending effect of CZNTs, the free-end is exposed to varying transverse displacements and the maximum force along the cross section at the fixed end is recorded to estimate the bending elastic modulus. The result obtained indicates that the bending elastic modulus of CZNTs depends on chirality and magnitude of applied transverse displacement. The simulated bending modulus of CZNTs fluctuates with the optimum value obtained from the zigzag configuration when 0.5 – 1.0 nm transverse displacement was applied. The results follows similar trend with what was obtained in other studies for carbon nanotubes but at comparatively lesser magnitude.