Abstract: The structure of carbon nanotubes, properties and its applications are introduced in mechanical aspect; the presentstatus and the advanced methods of research in the mechanical behaviors of carbon nanotubes are summarized comprehensiv-ely from experimental and simulation. Summarizing results show that study on the experiments and simulation of mechan-ical behaviors of carbon nanotubes is testing and simulating about its parameters, such as Young’s modulus, shearing strength and tensile strength, the advantages and disadvantages of these methods is analyzed. From these analysis, the method is obtained, which the mechanical behaviors of carbon nanotubes is simulated used appropriate C-C covalent bond potential function, is a way of easily accomplishment and high efficiency.

Key words: Carbon nanotubes  Mechanical behaviors  Molecular dynamics

黑龙江省自然科学基金资助项目(E0218). Received 20040622, received in revised form 20041116