We have discovered that the influence of the surrounding nanotubes in a bundle is similar to that of a liquid having surface tension equal to the surface energy of the nanotubes. This surprising behaviour is confirmed by the calculation of the self-c
ollapse diameters of nanotubes in a bundle. Other systems, such as peapods, fullerites, are similarly treated, including the effect of the presence of a solvent. Finally, we have evaluated the strength and toughness of the nanotube bundle, with or without collapsed nanotubes, assuming a sliding failure.
