title: Efficient and optimized identification of generalized Maxwell viscoelastic relaxation spectra.
abstract: Viscoelastic relaxation spectra are essential for predicting and interpreting the mechanical responses of materials and structures. For biological tissues, these spectra must usually be estimated from viscoelastic relaxation tests. Interpreting viscoelastic relaxation tests is challenging because the inverse problem is expensive computationally. We present here an efficient algorithm that enables rapid identification of viscoelastic relaxation spectra. The algorithm was tested against trial data to characterize its robustness and identify its limitations and strengths. The algorithm was then applied to identify the viscoelastic response of reconstituted collagen, revealing an extensive distribution of viscoelastic time constants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA. Electronic address: b.babaei@wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Babaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Ischemic Disorders Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. Electronic address: alidavarian@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davarian
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA. Electronic address: pryse@biochem.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Kenneth M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Pryse
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA. Electronic address: elson@biochem.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Elliot L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Elson
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA. Electronic address: genin@wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Guy M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Genin
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004548:Elasticity; D008422:Materials Testing; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen
keywords: Collagen; Generalized Maxwell model; Maxwell–Wiechert model; Relaxation spectrum; Viscoelastic model identification