Temperature and strain-rate dependent fracture strength of graphene

H Zhao and NR Aluru, JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS, 108, 064321 (2010).

DOI: 10.1063/1.3488620

We investigate the variation in fracture strength of graphene with temperature, strain rate, and crack length using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, kinetic analysis of fracture with a nonlinear elastic relation, and the quantized fracture mechanics theory. Young's modulus does not vary significantly with temperature until about 1200 K, beyond which the material becomes softer. Temperature plays a more important role in determining the fracture strength of graphene. Our studies suggest that graphene can be a strong material even, when subjected to variations in temperature, strain rate, and cracks. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. doi:10.1063/1.3488620

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