Flexure modulus of orthodontic stainless steel wires

The flexure modulus of elasticity of standard stainless steel orthodontic wires was determined by the use of an iterative finite element technique to be 25.4 x 10(6) psi (175 x 10(3) MN/m2). This technique accounts for the configurational changes in the test specimens due to the relatively large deflection during the cantilever test. Under these conditions, the elementary strength of materials relationships does not accurately describe the flexure characteristics of the wires.