Mechanical behaviour of carbon nanotubes under combined twisting-bending

- MD simulations of CNTs under twisting-bending interaction were performed.
- Zig-zag (8,0) and armchair (5,5) CNTs with similar radius and length were studied.
- Extremely twisted and buckled CNTs support moderate-to-high bending without failure.
- Under twisting-bending, armchair CNTs possess higher strength than zigzag CNTs.
- Armchair CNTs behave better as torsional spring elements than zigzag CNTs.