Abstract：Graphene is an allotrope of carbon in the form of a two-dimensional, atomic-scale, hexagonal lattice in which one atom forms each vertex, which is the known thinnest and strongest nanomaterial. Due to the excellent electronic, thermodynamical, optical and mechanical properties, graphene becomes a study hotspot in the fields of material science, physics, chemistry and mechanics. Derivatively, graphene composites have attracted tremendous research interest in recent years. According to the difference of mechanical behaviors, this review mainly presents and discusses the advances of graphene’s in-plane mechanical properties, out-of-plane mechanical properties, atomic revised graphene and graphene composites: the in-plane tension mechanical properties of graphene is measured via nanoindentation methods, the fracture of graphene is not completely consistent with continuum mechanical models, and the superlubricity occurs in multilayer-graphene; controllable out-of-plane displacement in graphene monolayer plays an important role in changing its physical properties, the buckling in graphene monolayer is influenced by its size and chirality, and there will be non-continuum effect in graphene-related devices with high frequency; graphene can improve the strength and toughness of composites, which is resulted through the combination of in-plane and out-of-plane interactions. Lastly, the summary and forecast of the mechanical study of graphene and graphene composites are narrated.
2016, Vol. 37 
