In　order　to　quantify　the　material　damping　of　deformed　flexible　fibers,　a　linear　viscoelastic　sphere-chain　model　based　on　the　discrete　element　method　is　presented.　In　the　model　the　interaction　between　any　two　neighboring　spheres　connected　by　a　visual　bond　is　modeled　as　springs　and　dash-pots　which　can　be　characterized　by　the　bond　stiffness　and　bond　damping　coefficient,　respectively.　Then　the　model　is　applied　to　simulate　the　bending　of　cantilever　beam　under　static　load　and　the　motion　of　fiber　in　the　simple　shear　flow,　respectively,　and　the　predictions　agree　well　with　those　of　classic　analytic　solutions,　available　experimental　data　and　previous　simulation　results.　Regarding　to　the　damping　behavior　of　deformed　flexible　fibers,　the　results　suggest　that　the　damping　coefficient　of　an　individual　fiber　mainly　depends　on　the　aspect　ratio　of　the　fiber　and　the　viscous　bond　damping　coefficient.　A　correlation　is　formulated　to　quantify　the　relationship　between　the　damping　coefficient　of　the　local　bond　and　that　of　the　flexible　fiber.　Generally,　to　enhance　the　global　damping　of　fibers　with　extremely　large　aspect　ratio,　the　bond　rolling　friction　torque　is　more　effective　than　the　viscous　bond　damping.　Those　findings　will　be　meaningful　for　the　development　of　numerical　modeling　of　flexible　fibers.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.