Mechanical properties of copper nanocube under three-axial tensile loadings

The mechanical properties of copper nanocubes by molecular dynamics are investigated in this paper. The [100], [110], [111] nanocubes are created, and their energies, yield stresses, hydrostatic stresses, Mises stresses, and the relationships between them and strain are analyzed. Some concepts of the microscopic damage mechanics are introduced, which are the basis of studying the damage mechanical properties by molecular dynamics. The [100] nanocube exhibits homogeneity and isotropy and achieves a balance easily. The [110] nanocube presents transverse isotropy. The [111] nanocube shows the complexity and anisotropy because the orientation sizes in three directions are different. The broken point occurs on a surface, but the other two do not. The [100] orientation model will be an ideal model for studying the microscopic damage theory.