TY - EJOU AU - Xu, X. Frank AU - Jie, Yuxin AU - Beyerlein, Irene J. TI - A Note on Statistical Strength of Carbon Nanotubes T2 - Computers, Materials \& Continua PY - 2013 VL - 38 IS - 1 SN - 1546-2226 AB - This note aims to relate the measured strength statistics of individual carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to the physics of brittle fracture and the weakest link model. By approximating an arbitrary flaw size distribution with a segmented power law, an effort is made to extend applicability of the Weibull distribution to arbitrary flaw populations, which explains why the Weibull distribution fits the experimental data of CNTs and many other brittle materials, and why in other cases it is not so clear. A generalized Weibull distribution is proposed to account for all non-asymptotic cases. The published CNT testing data are analyzed, and finally a major issue present in existing interpretation of CNT bundle testing data is clarified. KW - Strength KW - Power law KW - Weibull distribution KW - Carbon nanotubes DO - 10.3970/cmc.2013.038.017