This paper presents a new model on deformation characteristics of cylindrical tubes under pure bending. The model is based on the upper bound method that minimizes total strain energy of a system. It does not assume inextensibility condition. Geometric relations and displacement fields are derived by analysis of deformation behaviors of elastic tubes. Simulations are calculated using numerical optimization and integration techniques. The results give information about cross-sectional deformation of cylindrical tubes. Simulation results are compared with available data in literatures, which show that this method predicts deformation characteristics of tube bending process.