Design Nomenclature / Physical Model Making
Springback
Also called elastic recovery, spring-back
The elastic share of a bend returning the moment the tool releases. Every formed part relaxes back toward flat, so bends are deliberately overbent to land on the angle wanted. Stiffer alloys and larger radii spring back more, and the amount is found by bending a test coupon — never by calculating it and hoping.
In practice
"It sprang back" is said of wood after steam bending and of resin prints after post-cure too. Same physics, different shop, same lost afternoon.