Theory of time-dependent plastic deformation in disordered solids

Abstract

I present a theory of time-dependent plastic deformation of solids. I derive a general equation of motion for the stress probability distribution function P. I consider in detail uniaxial tension and show how this case can be (approximately) mapped onto a simple one-dimensional spring-block model. I study stationary creep and the linear and nonlinear response of a solid block to an imposed oscillatory strain. The theory is in good agreement with experimental data.