Presented　herein　is　an　investigation　into　the　buckling　behavior　of　single-walled　carbon　nanotubes　(SWCNTs)　with　defects　via　molecular　dynamics　(MD)　simulations.　Various　kinds　of　defects　including　point　defects　(monovacancy,　bivacancies,　and　line)　and　topological　defect　such　as　Stone-Wales　(SW)　are　considered.　The　MD　simulations　performed　on　the　SWCNTs　are　based　on　the　reactive　empirical　bond-order　and　Lennard-Jones　potentials　for　the　bonded　and　nonbonded　interactions,　respectively.　Different　temperatures　were　considered　to　explore　the　thermal　effect　on　the　buckling　behaviors　of　defective　SWCNTs.　It　is　observed　that　initial　defects　in　the　SWCNTs　reduce　their　buckling　capacities.　The　degree　of　reduction　depends　on　the　type　of　defects,　chirality,　and　temperature.　Point　defects　cause　a　greater　reduction　in　buckling　loads　than　SW　defect.　The　degradation　of　the　buckling　resistance　of　carbon　nanotubes　is　greater　for　zigzag　CNTs　at　lower　temperatures.　It　is　also　observed　that　reconstruction　of　defective　SWCNTs　can　be　realized　either　in　a　higher　thermal　environment　or　with　a　larger　compressive　force.　©　2009　American　Institute　of　Physics.