A theoretical consideration of the induction of curvature in a structure. Curvature may arise as a result of tension or load located, either: A. at the edge of the structure, or B. across its whole extent. The red dashed line indicates the deformed state caused by tension(s), which are represented by blue arrows. The solid red line indicates the non-deformed state. O represents the centre of the system, P is concentrated load, w variable load, the deflection at a specific point (x), and l the half length of the structure. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)