Temperature-Dependent Mechanical and Structural Properties of Uniaxially Strained Planar Graphene

Using molecular dynamics simulations of a planar graphene sheet, we investigate the temperature dependence of its mechanical behavior under uniaxial tensile stress applied either in the armchair or zigzag direction. Stress-strain curves are calculated for different temperatures, and the corresponding dependence of various elastic parameters is discussed. Fracture stress and strain, as well as the Young's modulus, decrease almost linearly with temperature, in accordance with previous investigations. An almost linear variation in the third-order elastic modulus with temperature is demonstrated, revealing opposite trends for uniaxial loadings in the armchair or zigzag direction. The detailed dependence of the distributions of bond lengths and bond angles both on strain and temperature is presented for the first time, along with approximate analytical expressions. The latter accurately describe the numerically obtained distributions.