Strain energy
In physics, the elastic potential energy gained by a wire during elongation with a tensile or compressive force is called strain energy. For linearly elastic materials, strain energy is:
where is stress, is strain, is volume, and is Young's modulus:
Molecular strain
In a molecule, strain energy is released when the constituent atoms are allowed to rearrange themselves in a chemical reaction. The external work done on an elastic member in causing it to distort from its unstressed state is transformed into strain energy which is a form of potential energy. The strain energy in the form of elastic deformation is mostly recoverable in the form of mechanical work.For example, the heat of combustion of cyclopropane is higher than that of propane for each additional CH2 unit. Compounds with unusually large strain energy include tetrahedranes, propellanes, cubane-type clusters, fenestranes and cyclophanes.