  We study theoretically the role of ageing in the rheology of soft materials.
We define several generalized rheological response functions suited to ageing
samples (in which time translation invariance is lost). These are then used to
study ageing effects within a simple scalar model (the "soft glassy rheology"
or SGR model) whose constitutive equations relate shear stress to shear strain
among a set of elastic elements, with distributed yield thresholds, undergoing
activated dynamics governed by a "noise temperature", $x$. (Between yields,
each element follows affinely the applied shear.) For $1<x<2$ there is a
power-law fluid regime in which transients occur, but no ageing. For $x<1$, the
model has a macroscopic yield stress. So long as this yield stress is not
exceeded, ageing occurs, with a sample's apparent relaxation time being of
order its own age. The (age-dependent) linear viscoelastic loss modulus
$G''(\omega,t)$ rises as frequency is {\em lowered}, but falls with age $t$, so
as to always remain less than $G'(\omega,t)$ (which is nearly constant).
Significant ageing is also predicted for the stress overshoot in nonlinear
shear startup and for the creep compliance. Though obviously oversimplified,
the SGR model may provide a valuable paradigm for the experimental and
theoretical study of rheological ageing phenomena in soft solids.
