Anelasticity is a delayed but recoverable strain response caused by relaxation of internal degrees of freedom. After a small imposed stress is removed, the strain can return to its original value over a finite time rather than instantaneously. Under oscillatory loading, this delay causes a phase lag and dissipation, measured by a loss modulus or loss tangent. Stress-induced redistribution of interstitial impurities in a metal gives the Snoek effect. This solid-state response is distinct from an approximation to fluid mass conservation carrying a similar name.
Anelasticity is a property of materials that describes their time-dependent mechanical response under stress. In anelastic materials, the strain (deformation) does not completely recover when the applied stress is removed, meaning that there is a permanent deformation or change in structure after the removal of the stress. This behavior is different from that of elastic materials, which return to their original shape and dimensions once the stress is removed.
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