Mechanics of soft polymeric materials using a fractal viscoelastic model

Soft materials are known for their plethora of biomedical applications, intricate structure–property correlation and nonlinear mechanical response. Multiple length–time scale phenomena hierarchical structure results in nonlinearity. Phenomenological continuum models have been developed to predict mechanics, which mostly very material-specific with inability the mechanics different types soft simultaneously. This shortcoming has addressed present work, wherein a generic viscoelastic model proposed response hydrogels, sponges, xerogels. A fractal derivative is considering Maxwell parallel spring. In particular, this chosen qualitatively mimic material nonlinearity inherent materials. The dashpot combination spring accounts power law time-dependent rheology These two aspects form stiffness non-Newtonian account most shown fit well existing literature multitude classes test conditions loading rates, one salient features model, apart from its simplistic mathematical framework. Further, parametric study reported on nanocellulose loaded poly(vinyl alcohol) xerogel. predictions observed be conjunction experimental observations.