  Multilayered graphitic materials are not suitable as load-bearers due to
their inherent weak interlayer bonding (for example, graphite is a solid
lubricant in certain applications). This situation is largely improved when
two-dimensional (2-D) materials such as a monolayer (SLG) graphene are
employed. The downside in these cases is the presence of thermally or
mechanically induced wrinkles which are ubiquitous in 2-D materials. Here we
set out to examine the effect of extensive large wavelength/ amplitude
wrinkling on the stress transfer capabilities of exfoliated simply-supported
graphene flakes. Contrary to common belief we present clear evidence that this
type of "corrugation" enhances the load bearing capacity of few-layer graphene
as compared to 'flat' specimens. This effect is the result of the significant
increase of the graphene/polymer interfacial shear stress per increment of
applied strain due to wrinkling and paves the way for designing affordable
graphene composites with highly improved stress-transfer efficiency.
