On the viscoelastic character of liver tissue: experiments and modelling of the linear behaviour

This paper presents the results of recent investigations into the viscoelastic character of liver tissue, especially the linear response. The linear domain of liver tissue has been determined by a strain sweep oscillation test. The fluid-like viscoelastic behaviour of liver tissue was confirmed by stress relaxation experiments. To demonstrate the consistency and quality of the experimental data, the relaxation spectrum was used to reconstruct the relaxation modulus, as well as the storage and loss moduli. The generalised Maxwell model was successfully employed to model the mechanical behaviour in the linear viscoelastic domain.