Simulations of nanowire bend tests for extracting mechanical properties

Mechanical properties of nickel nanowires are characterized based on the numerical simulations of bend tests performed with a customized atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Nickel nanowire specimens are subjected to bending loads by the tip of the AFM cantilever. The experimental force versus bending displacement curves are compared against simulations from finite element analysis and peridynamic theory, and the mechanical properties are extracted based on their best correlations. Similarly, SEM images of fractured nanowires are compared against peridynamic failure simulations. The results of this study reveal that nickel nanowires have significantly higher strengths than their bulk counterparts, although their elastic modulus values are comparable to bulk nickel modulus values.

► The elastic moduli of nickel nanowires with diameters of 250 nm are comparable to those of the bulk material.
► The yield stress of the nanowires are observed to be much higher than those of bulk electroplated nickel.
► Their higher value could be due to the lower defect density of nanowires compared to bulk scale materials.