A continuum model of negatively charged rods finely dispersed in a positively charged fluid

► We model the chemical stress arising in a polyelectrolyte material. ► The polymer is considered as a continuum of cells including one molecule and fluid. ► The stress is written in terms of the geometry and composition of the material. ► We applied the model to a matrix of chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans. ► Stresses obtained from the simulation are not null in the undeformed configuration.