Elastic energy
= Elastic energy
{title2=$E_{\mathrm{elastic}}$}
Elastic energy is the recoverable energy stored by deforming an elastic material. In the small-deflection model of an <elastic filament>, the bending contribution is a positive quadratic functional of the curvatures, such as $\tfrac12\int(Ay''^2+Bz''^2)\,dx$. Work by applied loads must also be included when minimizing the total potential energy.