ABSTRACT
Furthermore it will be shown by experimental tests of simple specimen (simple shear) that this stress-softening effect is direction-dependent. This means that a loading in a certain direction results in a reduced stress for subsequent loadings in the same direction, whereas this effect is less pronounced in other directions. This leads to direction-dependent stiffnesses, meaning that the material behaviour becomes anisotropic during loading. This aspect is very important for products that have to endure different kinds of loadings during their life-cycle.
