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We use molecular dynamics simulations of a model three-dimensionalparticulate gel, to investigate the linear viscoelastic response. The numericalsimulations are combined with a novel test protocol (the optimally- windowedchirp or OWCh), in which a continuous exponentially-varying frequency sweepwindowed by a tapered cosine function is applied. The mechanical response ofthe gel is then analyzed in the Fourier domain. We show that i) OWCh leads toan accurate computation of the full frequency spectrum at a rate significantlyfaster than with the traditional discrete frequency sweeps, and with areasonably high signal-to-noise ratio, and ii) the bulk viscoelastic responseof the microscopic model can be described in terms of a simple mesoscopicconstitutive model. The simulated gel response is in fact well described by amechanical model corresponding to a fractional Kelvin-Voigt model with a singleScott-Blair (or springpot) element and a spring in parallel. By varying theviscous damping and the particle mass used in the microscopic simulations overa wide range of values, we demonstrate the existence of a single master curvefor the frequency dependence of the viscoelastic response of the gel that isfully predicted by the constitutive model. By developing a fast and robustprotocol for evaluating the linear viscoelastic spectrum of these soft solids,we open the path towards novel multiscale insight into the rheological responsefor such complex materials.

Computing the linear viscoelastic properties of soft gels using an Optimally Windowed Chirp protocol