Contact nanomechanics of a capped nanotube indented on graphite and diamond surfaces

Contact behaviour of a capped single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) indented into the surface of graphite sheets and diamond is studied using molecular dynamics simulation. The interactions between SWCNT, graphite and diamond atoms are described by the Tersoff-Brenner potential, and the Lennard-Jones potential function is employed to simulate the interactions between the indenter and the graphite and diamond atoms. The simulation results show that the maximum contact force increases with increasing indentation velocity and with decreasing indentation temperature. In addition, the diamond appears a greater force exerted on the indenter than the graphite sheets.