The goal of this study was to examine the interrelationships among the viscoelastic property characterizations of cortical bone using Prony series representations for relaxation, creep and dynamic behavior. Equine cortical bone was tested in both relaxation and creep primarily to provide data for Prony series curve-fits and interconversions among linear viscoelastic material functions. In addition, other characteristics of linear viscoelasticity were examined.
Loading modulus was not affected by the loading rates and the loading amplitudes chosen for this study. The linearity assumption of viscoelasticity was supported for the relaxation data and no damage accumulation behaviors were observed. The results from visual inspection of the Prony series models varied from the results of the statistical tests but some models did appear to outperform others. The conversions were of limited success; however, through the implementation of the routines better insight into the requirements for successful interconverting has been gained.