Viscoelasticity of a hydrogel

[CUbone]

I'm attempting to design a FEM for an alginate hydrogel with viscoelastic properties using ANSYS. The data I've recieved are in the form of the frequency-response (storage and loss moduli), and I'm looking for a way to convert these data into a form I can use with ANSYS's viscoelastic material modeling. I assume I need to use Prony series paramaters, but I'm not sure how to get there with what I've got.

Help is much appreciated; speak slowly, you're talking to a biologist.

Thanks,

NCF

[Jorgen]

Hi NCF,

Interesting project!

My first recommendation is that you check with the ANSYS manuals to see if ANSYS has a built-in method for obtaining the Prony series parameters from frequency data (I know that ABAQUS has a built-in method for doing that).

If ANSYS cannot do that for you, then it is not too difficult to perform the conversion yourself. I have done this many times and can provide you with the equations, and the approach to do it.

Jorgen

[CUbone]

There doesn't seem to be any direct way to use frequency data in Ansys. I would be very greatful if you would pass along your equations and method.

Thanks also for the tip about ABAQUS, I think I can find a department around here that has a liscense.

NCF