This paper provides an analysis of the transient behaviour of a right-angled bent cantilever beam subjected to a suddenly applied force at its tip perpendicular to its plane. Based on a rigid, perfectly plastic material model, a double-hinge mechanism is required to complete the possible deformation under a rectangular force pulse (constant force applied for a finite duration) with a four-phase response mode. The kinematics of the various response phases are described and the partitioning of the input energy at the plastic hinges during the motion is evaluated.