Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
This paper concerns the bending of rectangular foils with different width-to-length ratios, coated with a layer with high internal stress. Framework for the interpretation of experimental results is a description of the bending based on geometrically nonlinear elasticity. Calculations indicate that the (mean) biaxial modulus of coatings on foils may be determined by this method. Fully isotropic and isotropic-orthotropic bilayers are considered. Preliminary experimental results, of unbalanced magnetron sputtered PVD TiN coatings on stainless steel foil, are shown to be in qualitative agreement with the geometrically non-linear description of the bending of coated foils, provided anisotropy of the substrate and clamping conditions are taken into account.