The viscoelastic response of soft material: A theoretical and experimental study based on barreling deformation

The viscoelastic properties of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) measured are demonstrated by the uniaxial indentation test. Based on the barreling deformation, the viscoelastic models are established and the factors influencing the viscoelastic properties are discussed. These results indicate that the deformation response is greatly associated with load conditions and the PDMS materials exhibited more elastic properties at large load conditions as compared to small load conditions. It was reasonable to use the stress at the middle-section zone to investigate the viscoelastic behavior of the soft materials. The number and type of these elements in viscoelastic models affected the soft materials characteristics. These results would be helpful to further understand the viscoelastic properties and characterization of soft tissues.