  The geometric, electronic and magnetic properties of strained graphene
nanoribbons were investigated using spin polarized calculations within the
framework of density functional theory. Cases of compressive stress along the
longer axis of a nanoribbon and tensile stress at the midpoint and
perpendicular to the plane of the nanoribbon were considered. Significant
structural changes were observed including the formation of nanoripples. The
calculated electronic and magnetic properties strongly depend on the size and
shape of nanoribbons. The tunable magnetic properties of strained nanoribbons
can be employed for designing magnetic nano-switches.
