The Cosserat Spectrum theory is applied in the theory of linear viscoelasti
city. The solution for the Laplace transform of the displacement of the vis
coelastic problem is expressed in a series of the Cosserat eigenfunctions,
which are dependent only on position, and the coefficients are expressed as
convolutions of the time dependent body force or surface loading provided
that the inverse Laplace transforms of the viscoelastic moduli are known. T
his renders the Cosserat Spectrum theory advantageous for the solution of v
iscoelastic problems. Several examples are shown. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science
Ltd. Air rights reserved.