Modelling viscoelastic materials whose storage modulus is constant with frequency

This paper presents a relaxation function characterising viscoelastic materials whose storage modulus is constant with frequency, and whose loss factor shows the representative peak of damping materials. This behaviour is typical of some composite materials, where the elastic constituents give the constant modulus, and the polymeric components provide the variable loss factor. The new model gives a way to provide comparative data for different materials in a form which can easily be incorporated into simulations. The physical meaning of the model parameters is defined from the analysis of the complex modulus in frequency domain. The presented relaxation function is validated by curve fitting to experimental measurements carried out on polymer concrete specimens, made of epoxy resin matrix with mineral aggregates.