Mechanical properties of gold twinned nanocubes under different triaxial tensile rates

•The models under triaxial tension are simulated.•The nanocubes under different tensile rates are investigated.•We define some mechanical concepts for simulation.•Twin boundaries prevent dislocations between twin boundaries developing.•Dislocations have not obvious angle characteristic.

The gold twinned nanocubes under different triaxial tensile rates are explored by molecular dynamics simulation. Hydrostatic stress and Mises stress are defined in order to understand triaxial stresses. Twin boundaries prevent dislocations between twin boundaries from developing and dislocation angles are inconspicuous, which causes little difference between triaxial stresses. The mechanical properties of the nanocubes under low and high tensile rates are different. The curves of nanocubes under high tensile rates are more abrupt than those under low tensile rates. When the tensile rate is extremely big, the loadings are out of the nanocubes and there are not deformation and fracture in the internal nanocubes.