Numerical Simulations Using a Molecular Mechanics-based Finite Element Approach: Application on Boron-Nitride Armchair Nanotubes

Boron-nitride nanotubes can be thought of as rolled sheets of plane hexagonal boron-nitride. In this paper a computationally efficient modeling approach is pursued. The honeycomb-like structure of the lattice is exploited and a special finite element is developed based on this hexagonal pattern. The internal energy is calculated using semi-empirical molecular mechanics functions and energy minimization algorithms are applied in order to obtain the equilibrium state under various loading conditions. Results are found to be in agreement with data found in the open literature. The introduced modeling approach provides a computationally efficient way to analyze nanotubes without the need of large-scale simulations, while it does not require lattice periodicity and structural perfection.