inelastises

Inelastises is a term used in materials science to describe a class of irreversible deformation events in solids that occur when unloading does not restore the original shape. An inelastise denotes a single instance of such deformation, and the term is intended to distinguish these events from elastic recovery, classic plastic yield, or purely time-dependent viscoelastic creep. Inelastises are typically driven by high stresses, elevated temperatures, or complex loading paths and may arise from microstructural changes that permanently alter a material's structure.

Mechanisms and classification: Inelastises can involve dislocation activity, diffusion-assisted phase transformations, damage accumulation, microcracking, or combinations thereof. They are often rate- and path-dependent, localized or distributed, and may exhibit threshold-like behavior with respect to stress or strain. Researchers model inelastises using constitutive frameworks that couple elastic, plastic, viscous, and damage terms through internal state variables.

Measurement and implications: Experimental indicators include residual strains after unloading, hysteresis in stress-strain loops, and energy dissipation. Advanced microscopy and spectroscopy can link macroscopic inelastic events to microstructural changes. In geophysics and structural engineering, analogous irreversible deformations help explain hysteresis and permanent deformations in rocks and structures.

Status and usage: The term inelastises is not widely standardized and may appear variably in theoretical discussions or in speculative contexts. As a developing concept, it emphasizes irreversible deformation pathways that do not fit neatly into conventional elastic or plastic categories. Further work is needed to establish precise definitions, classification schemes, and experimental protocols.