Originally Posted by willtsmith_nwi
However, I will point out that the one flange cannot move without the other coming along. This topic sounds a bit like applying a load to the bottom of a hanging rope and expecting there to be some difference in tension from one side to another. Tension affects a body uniformly. The variable bit is the how much different parts stretch.
Correct, apply some tension to one end of a rope (or a rubber band) and fix the other end and you will measure the same tension at both ends. On the other hand, you will get movement of one end relative to the other (stretching). Differential movement can be a result of tension, compression or, for a hub, mostly torsion.
Have a look at the back of Jobst Brandt's book for differential movement of rear hub flanges and resulting spoke tension changes..