loadsoftening
Loadsoftening is a phenomenon observed in certain materials where their stiffness or resistance to deformation decreases after being subjected to a specific load. This effect is distinct from yielding, which involves permanent deformation. Instead, loadsoftening refers to a reversible or partially reversible reduction in the material's elastic modulus or a related stiffness parameter.
The behavior is typically observed in materials exhibiting complex microstructures or exhibiting time-dependent properties. For instance,
The consequence of loadsoftening is that the material becomes more compliant under subsequent loading cycles, even