The analysis of plane strain elastic-plastic bending of a linear strain hardening curved beam with a narrow rectangular cross section subjected to couples at its end is conducted based on a unified yield criterion. The solutions for the mechanical properties of plane strain bending are derived, which are adapted for various kinds of non-strength differential materials and can be degenerated to those based on the Tresca, von Mises, and twin-shear yield criteria. The dependences of the two critical bending moments, the radii of the interfaces between the elastic and plastic regions and the radial displacements of the points at the symmetrical plane on different yield criteria and Poisson’s ratios are discussed. The results show that the influences of different yield criteria and Poisson’s ratio on the two critical bending moments, the radii of the interfaces between the elastic and plastic regions and the radial displacements of the points at the symmetrical plane of the curved beam are significant. Once the value of bis obtained by experiments, the yield criterion and the corresponding solution for the materials of interest are then determined.
