SUMMARYA new method-the strip element method for discriminating the shape or the stability of the rolled strip subjected to the residual stress is proposed. The rolled strip is divided into a number of strip elements, and the de ection function model is constructed with the third-power spline function and the sine function. Based on the minimum potential energy principle, the shape discrimination is transformed into the solution of eigenvalue. The computed examples verify the reliability and the practicality of this method.