Abstract: This paper presents theoretical developments as well asengineering applications of the curved beam system. Firstly, the progress ofmodeling formulation for the dynamic analysis of flexible multi-body systemsis reviewed. Then, on the basis of the theory of continuum mechanics andmulti-body system dynamics, the description of strain-displacementrelationships including geometric nonlinearity is presented for the planar and the spatialcurved beams, respectively. The suitability of finite elementdiscretization methods for curved beams with constant or varied curvatureis summarized. The special difficulties related to modeling andcomputational methods for the flexible multi-body system are pointed outbased on previous researches, and, the advances in experimenttechniques for curved beam systems are also elucidated. Finally, the prospect for future investigations is suggested.