Theoretical modeling on mechanical-electrical coupling of carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes have been studied extensively due to their unique properties, ranging from electronic, mechanical, optical, to thermal properties. The coupling between the electronic and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes has emerged as a new field, which raises both interesting fundamental problems and fantastic application potentials. In this article, we will review our recent work on the theoretical modeling on mechanical-electrical coupling of carbon nanotubes subject to various loading conditions, including tension/ compression, torsion, and squashing. Some related work by other groups will be also mentioned.