Dynamic modulus ($G^{\ast }(\omega )=G^{\prime }(\omega )+i{G}^{\prime \prime }(\omega )$)

The dynamic modulus is the complex stress-amplitude to strain-amplitude ratio in steady oscillatory response. With the convention $e^{i\omega t}$, the real part is the storage modulus and the imaginary part is the loss modulus. For $ϵ={ϵ}_0\cos \omega t$, $\sigma ={ϵ}_0(G^{\prime }\cos \omega t-G^{\prime \prime }\sin \omega t)$. The average supplied power is $\omega {ϵ}_0^2{G}^{\prime \prime }/2$, fixing the loss-sign convention. The elastic coefficient is a shear or extension modulus according to the deformation measured; it is unrelated to the complex modulus meaning absolute value of a complex number.

A thin uniform circular rod of radius $r$ and length $\ell$ undergoing a small end twist of complex amplitude $\Theta$ has shear-strain amplitude $\gamma (\rho )=\rho \Theta /\ell$. A complex viscoelastic modulus $G^{\ast }(\omega )$ gives shear-stress amplitude $G^{\ast }\rho \Theta /\ell$. Integrating the restoring torque givesThe area integral is the polar second moment of the cross-section, not a mass moment of inertia. For a disc of moment of inertia $I$ and negligible rod inertia, harmonic angular motion satisfies $[-I{\omega }^2+K^{\ast }(\omega )]\Theta =0$ in a free-mode calculation, or equals the external torque amplitude in a driven measurement. The complex stiffness is a frequency-domain constitutive representation; a general real-time response has memory and cannot be described by putting an arbitrary frequency-dependent complex number into an instantaneous real equation.

The rubbery plateau is a frequency or time range in which a flexible polymer network has an approximately constant elastic storage modulus dominated by chain entropy. A permanently crosslinked elastomer retains a nonzero long-time modulus. An entangled uncrosslinked polymer melt can have a transient plateau but ultimately reaches terminal fluid flow at sufficiently low frequency. The plateau therefore must be interpreted with the network lifetime and observation window specified.