We performed atomistic simulations to study the effect of free surfaces on the yielding of gold
nanowires. Tensile surface stresses on the surfaces of the nanowires cause them to contract
along the length with respect to the bulk face-centered cubic lattice and induce compressive
stress in the interior. When the cross-sectional area of a〈 100〉 nanowire is less than 2.45
nm× 2.45 nm, the wire yields under its surface stresses. Under external forces and surface
stresses, nanowires yield via the nucleation and propagation of the {111}〈 112〉 partial …

We performed atomistic simulations to study the effect of free surfaces on the yielding of gold
nanowires. Tensile surface stresses on the surfaces of the nanowires cause them to contract
along the length with respect to the bulk face-centered cubic lattice and induce compressive
stress in the interior. When the cross-sectional area of a (100) nanowire is less than 2.45 nm
x 2.45 nm, the wire yields under its surface stresses. Under external forces and surface
stresses, nanowires yield via the nucleation and propagation of the {l_brace} 111 {r_brace}< …