The application of a finite shear to a system after a long rest may result in a decrease of the viscosity or the consistency. If the decrease persists when the shear is discontinued, this behaviour is called work softening (or shear breakdown), whereas if the original viscosity or consistency is recovered this behaviour is called thixotropy, Nähtus, kui jõu (nihkepinge) rakendamine mingile keskkonnale kutsub esile selle viskoossuse või konsistentsi vähenemise