Relaxation of orthodontic elastomeric chains and modules in vitro and in vivo

In the study of elastoplastic members subjected to bending moments, understanding the loading and unloading phases is crucial for assessing material behavior and structural integrity. During the loading phase, as the bending moment increases, the material initially responds elastically, adhering to Hooke's Law, where stress is directly proportional to strain. When the load exceeds the yield strength, plastic deformation occurs, resulting in permanent strain and deformation that remains even...