An Ising model for the stress relaxation of solids

A kinetic theory of stress relaxation of solids as a cooperative process is proposed. The theory is based on a two-state model for the relaxation. It is shown that the conventional mean field approximation leads to an exponential dependence of the rate of stress relaxation on the stress while the multiplicative approximation of Vol'kenstein et al. leads to a power law. It is argued that the exponential law should be valid initially in the relaxation process while the power law is appropriate when the system is nearer equilibrium, which is in qualitative agreement with recent experimental findings.