Carbon　nanotube　(CNT)　nanorope　is　a　hierarchical　assembly　by　twisting　a　CNT-bundle　array.　The　deformation　and　failure　of　nanoropes　induced　by　an　electric　field　are　investigated　in　this　paper.　A　modified　atomistic　moment　method　is　used　to　obtain　the　distribution　of　electric　charges　on　the　nanoropes.　Then　the　rotation,　elongation　and　failure　of　nanoropes　with　different　twisted　angles　in　an　electric　field　are　simulated　by　molecular　dynamics　(MD)　method.　It　is　found　that　under　action　of　electric　field,　nanoropes　can　rotate　around　core　axis　and　extent　along　axial　direction,　and　even　break,　depending　on　the　strength　of　applied　electric　field.　The　external　charges　on　nanoropes　can　affect　the　Young＇s　modulus,　critical　broken　stress　of　CNT　nanoropes.　This　research　can　contribute　to　design　of　various　nano-devices　and　new　function　structures　based　on　CNT　nanoropes.　(C)　2014　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.