Tensile and compressive behaviour of silicon carbide nanocones with 120° disclination

The tensile and compressive behaviour of silicon carbide nanocones (SiCNCs) under axial strain has been investigated using classic molecular dynamics simulations. For the tensile behaviour, the influences of the cone height on the failure strain, and failure force as well as failure strain energy have been systematically explored. Both the failure strain and the strain energy of SiCNCs are found to decrease with the increasing cone height. However, the failure force is marginally affected by the cone height. For the compressive behaviour of the SiCNCs, the deformation patterns in the buckling and postbuckling stages are extensively examined. The influences of the cone height on compressive behaviour have been explored. It is noted that the increased cone height has significant effect on the critical strain, and critical force as well as critical strain energy per atom of SiCNCs.