An empirical model for the stress-strain relationships of hydrocolloid gels in tension mode

The mechanical properties of hydrocolloid gels with high gum concentrations (agar 1-5%, gellan 1-3% and K-carrageenan 0.5-3.0%), were measured under uniaxial tension. A simple power law model was used to describe the stress-strain curves which tended to be concave upward. The overall stiffness and the extent to which the stress-strain curve deviated from a straight line were estimated by the calculated constants of this model, using linear regression of the model's logarithmic transform.