Abstract: The structure of carbon nanotubes, properties and its applications are introduced in mechanical aspect; the present status and the advanced methods of research in the mechanical behaviors of carbon nanotubes are summarized comprehensiv- ely from experimental and simulation. Summarizing results show that study on the experiments and simulation of mechan- ical behaviors of carbon nanotubes is testing and simulating about its parameters, such as Young’s modulus, shearing streng- th and tensile strength, the advantages and disadvantages of these methods is analyzed. From these analysis, the method is obtained, which the mechanical behaviors of carbon nanotubes is simulated used appropriate C-C covalent bond potential function, is a way of easily accomplishment and high efficiency.

Key words: Carbon nanotubes, Mechanical behaviors, Molecular dynamics