THE STRAIN IN AN ELASTIC PLATE

The strain distribution in an elastic plate bent in one dimension: ori ginally proposed by Euler and Bemoulli in 1744, is examined. On the ba sis of fundamental considerations in thermodynamics, it is shown that the plane of zero strain is shifted slightly from the central plane. T his appears to invalidate the currently-accepted interpretation of exp erimental data on heteroepitaxial stress measured using the cantilever bending method. From comparison with experimental data: doubt is cast on the strain distribution of Euler and Bemoulli in its application t o the cantilever bending method.