Flexural rigidity

Flexural rigidity is defined as the force couple required to bend a fixed non-rigid structure in one unit of curvature or it can be defined as the resistance offered by a structure while undergoing bending. Flexural rigidity is defined as the force couple required to bend a fixed non-rigid structure in one unit of curvature or it can be defined as the resistance offered by a structure while undergoing bending. In a beam or rod, flexural rigidity (defined as EI) varies along the length as a function of x shown in the following equation: where E {displaystyle E} is the Young's modulus (in Pa), I {displaystyle I} is the second moment of area (in m4), y {displaystyle y} is the transverse displacement of the beam at x, and M ( x ) {displaystyle M(x)} is the bending moment at x. Flexural rigidity has SI units of Pa·m4 (which also equals N·m²). In the study of geology, lithospheric flexure affects the thin lithospheric plates covering the surface of the Earth when a load or force is applied to them. On a geological timescale, the lithosphere behaves elastically (in first approach) and can therefore bend under loading by mountain chains, volcanoes and other heavy objects. Isostatic depression caused by the weight of ice sheets during the last glacial period is an example of the effects of such loading.