  We present a calculation of the change of free energy of a solid surface upon
bending of the solid. It is based on extracting the surface stress through a
molecular dynamics simulation of a bent slab by using a generalized stress
theorem formula, and subsequent integration of the stress with respect to
strain as a function of bending curvature. The method is exemplified by
obtaining and comparing free energy changes with curvature of various
reconstructed Au(001) surfaces.
