Effect of surface energy on tensile deformation of nanotubes

Using the theory of linear elasticity, the effect of surface energy on tensile deformation of nanotubes is analysed. A closed-form solution of the stress field in a nanotube is derived. The surface energy creates internal stress in the nanotube and causes an increase in the tensile stress required to produce the same amount of tensile strain for a nanotube of the same size without the action of surface energy. The internal stress is a function of the surface energies of inner and outer surfaces and is dependent on the size of the nanotube. The tensile stress is a linear function of the tensile strain and is dependent on the size of the nanotube in contrast to direct proportionality between tensile stress and tensile strain for the tensile deformation of linear elastic materials.