Phenomenon · phenomenon:elastic-deformation

Elastic deformation

A stressed elastic solid stores recoverable strain energy. The intermediate step by which vibration, flow and pressure become the stress that piezoelectric and magnetoelastic materials respond to.

Classical mechanicsfirst reported 1660also: Hooke's law response, strain energy storage

Atlas record: 7 claims reference this phenomenon — 5 established and 2 demonstrated.

Explorerelations · routes · sources · cite

conditions: solid

7claims40enumerated routes3routes with complete-composition evidence7candidate routes not searched5cited sources

Relations

drives · 3

Mechanical stress or strain—drives→Elastic deformationestablished

σ = E · ε · Young's modulus E [Pa]

Pressure gradient—drives→Elastic deformationestablished

pressure acting on a diaphragm or shell

Mechanical vibration—drives→Elastic deformationestablished

cyclic deformation of an elastic member (a cantilever
a plate
a sheet) by base or inertial excitation; operation at a structural resonance amplifies the deformation but is not required

produces · 2

Elastic deformation—produces→Elastic stressestablished

Elastic deformation—produces→Mechanical stress or strainestablished

the deformed member carries a cyclic stress or strain state that can drive a stress-driven conversion (flexoelectric
elastocaloric
piezoelectric)

implemented by · 2

Elastic deformation—implemented by→Flexoelectric vibration harvesterdemonstrated

Elastic deformation—implemented by→Pneumatic pressure piezoelectric harvesterdemonstrated

Enumerated routes through this · 40 (showing 24)

Pneumatic pressure piezoelectric harvester5/5 est · demonstrated
Flexoelectric vibration harvester5/5 est · demonstrated
Wave-impact piezoelectric harvester7/7 est · demonstrated
Pressure gradient → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Elastocaloric effect → Cooling3/4 est · extends a recorded pathway
Pressure gradient → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Elastocaloric effect → Useful heat3/4 est · extends a recorded pathway
Vibration-driven elastocaloric cooler (proposed)3/4 est · candidate
Mechanical vibration → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Elastocaloric effect → Useful heat3/4 est · candidate
Pressure gradient → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Direct piezoelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work5/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
Pressure gradient → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Flexoelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work5/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
Mechanical stress or strain → Elastic deformation → Elastic stress → Direct piezoelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work5/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
Mechanical vibration → Elastic deformation → Elastic stress → Direct piezoelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work5/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
Mechanical vibration → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Direct piezoelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work5/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
Temperature gradient → Marangoni effect → Pressure gradient → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Elastocaloric effect → Cooling4/6 est · same energy form
Temperature gradient → Marangoni effect → Pressure gradient → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Elastocaloric effect → Useful heat4/6 est · same energy form
Bulk fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Elastocaloric effect → Cooling5/6 est · candidate
Bulk fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Elastocaloric effect → Useful heat5/6 est · candidate
Bulk fluid flow → Ocean wave motion → Pressure gradient → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Elastocaloric effect → Cooling5/6 est · extends a recorded pathway
Bulk fluid flow → Ocean wave motion → Pressure gradient → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Elastocaloric effect → Useful heat5/6 est · extends a recorded pathway
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Pressure gradient → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Elastocaloric effect → Cooling4/6 est · weakly supported
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Pressure gradient → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Elastocaloric effect → Useful heat4/6 est · weakly supported
Thermocapillary piezoelectric micro heat engine6/7 est · weakly supported
Temperature gradient → Marangoni effect → Pressure gradient → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Direct piezoelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work6/7 est · weakly supported
Temperature gradient → Marangoni effect → Pressure gradient → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Flexoelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work6/7 est · weakly supported
Temperature gradient → Thermal expansion → Mechanical stress or strain → Elastic deformation → Elastic stress → Direct piezoelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work7/7 est · candidate

Cited sources · 5

[1]
J. F. Nye. Physical Properties of Crystals: Their Representation by Tensors and Matrices (1985)
Oxford University Press · book, no DOI · record
[2]
A. Erturk, D. J. Inman. Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting (2011)
Wiley · doi:10.1002/9781119991151 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
[3]
S. Yang et al.. Performance enhancement of flexoelectric energy harvester by structural design (2025)
International Journal of Smart and Nano Materials 16(4), 908–928 · doi:10.1080/19475411.2025.2592544 · record
[4]
C. Yang et al.. Design and Experimental Investigation of a Novel Piezoelectric Energy Harvester in Pneumatic System (2022)
Energy Technology 10, 2200096 · doi:10.1002/ente.202200096 · record
[5]
A. Kumar et al.. Vibration induced refrigeration using ferroelectric materials (2019)
Scientific Reports 9, 3922 · doi:10.1038/s41598-019-40159-8 · record

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