What is Bending: Definition and 665 Discussions

In applied mechanics, bending (also known as flexure) characterizes the behavior of a slender structural element subjected to an external load applied perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the element.
The structural element is assumed to be such that at least one of its dimensions is a small fraction, typically 1/10 or less, of the other two. When the length is considerably longer than the width and the thickness, the element is called a beam. For example, a closet rod sagging under the weight of clothes on clothes hangers is an example of a beam experiencing bending. On the other hand, a shell is a structure of any geometric form where the length and the width are of the same order of magnitude but the thickness of the structure (known as the 'wall') is considerably smaller. A large diameter, but thin-walled, short tube supported at its ends and loaded laterally is an example of a shell experiencing bending.
In the absence of a qualifier, the term bending is ambiguous because bending can occur locally in all objects. Therefore, to make the usage of the term more precise, engineers refer to a specific object such as; the bending of rods, the bending of beams, the bending of plates, the bending of shells and so on.

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  1. C

    Bending stress of beam in contact with a flat surface?

    I am designing a spinal disc with 2 metal endplates. These endplates are rectangular in shape and are fixed to form a flat contact surface with the vertebrae bone surface. My question is based on the bending stress of these metal endplates. I need to work out the possible thickness of these...
  2. C

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  3. O

    Is Time Bending the 3rd Dimension in Spacetime Curvature?

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  4. R

    Formula involved in calculating Flexuliar Bending

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  5. Saladsamurai

    Shear and Bending Moment Diagrams

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  6. G

    Steel Tube Bending: Gai Abraham's LEV Automotive Engineering Question

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  7. W

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  8. M

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  9. S

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  10. W

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  11. M

    What Happens When You Bend a Plastic Cup?

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  12. marcus

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  13. I

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  14. V

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  15. G

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  16. J

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  17. D

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  18. H

    Calculating Light Bending by Gravity: Can You Teach Me?

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  19. X

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  20. A

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  21. P

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  22. L

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  23. F

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  24. T

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  25. T

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  26. T

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  27. T

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  28. T

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  29. C

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  30. T

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  31. I

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  32. T

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  33. V

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  34. B

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  35. B

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  36. K

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  37. O

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  38. R

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  39. C

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  40. U

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  41. michael879

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  42. E

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    Ok We All Know That A Gravitational Feild Can Bend A Beam Of Light Now Can The Reverese Of This Be True? Can A Bent Beam Of Light Produce A Gravitational Field ?
  43. C

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  44. K

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  45. S

    Light Bending Effect in General Relativity: Understanding Gravitational Lensing

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  46. X

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  47. D

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  48. J

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  49. E

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  50. O

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