On the mechanical characteristics of graphene nanosheets: a fully nonlinear modified Morse model

In this paper, the mechanical properties of graphene nanosheets are evaluated based on the nonlinear modified Morse model. The interatomic interactions including stretching and bending of the covalent bonds between carbon atoms, are replaced by nonlinear extensional and torsional spring-like elements. The finite element method is implemented to analyze the model under different loading conditions and linear characteristics of the graphene structure including the Young's modulus, surface modulus, shear modulus and Poisson's ratio are evaluated for various geometries and chirality where these properties are shown to be size and aspect ratio dependent. It is also found that when the dimensions of the sheets are greater than a certain threshold, the structure behaves quasi-isotropically and the directional elastic moduli become close to each other by a relative difference no more than 1%. Using the nonlinear stress-strain curve, the yielding point and ultimate stress and strains of the graphene sheet are also evaluated. The results of this study are compared with available experimental data and previous numerical simulations, where good agreement is achieved.