Compressive mechanical behavior of Au nanowires

The structural evolution, deformation mechanism, and failure behavior of Au vertical bar 001 vertical bar nanowires with various sizes and slenderness ratios under uniaxial compression have been investigated using molecular dynamics. The results show that the elastic modulus, yield stress, and strain all are dependent on the diameters and slenderness ratios of the nanowires. Buckling behavior is observed in a long nanowire, followed by slips in the {111} planes. Differences are identified in the failure behavior of a short nanowire and a medium nanowire, although the plastic deformation of both types of nanowire originates from the slips in the {111} planes. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.