<p>The ability to capture time dependent behavior of viscoelastic materials in an appropriate model is critical for predicting and interpreting deformation response. This is particularly true of applications of viscoelastic composites to sensor and actuator situations, where real-time interpretation of mechanical and associated electrical response is vital to component performance. Rheological models have historically been utilized to capture such behavior, with great success. However, as functional composites become more exotic, such as nanocomposites used for piezoresistive strain gauges, the ability of standard models to reflect the true mechanical response deteriorates. One model that has been used with some success to model the behavior of viscoelastic composites is the Kountou–Zacharatos (K-Z) model. This paper analyzes the ability of the popular Burgers linear model to capture time-dependent behavior of nanocomposite sensors and compares it to the nonlinear K-Z model (which has not previously been applied to this type of material). Furthermore, rapid calibration of the model’s parameters to physical data is considered. It is shown that linear models that are calibrated to stress relaxation curves perform much better than those calibrated against creep curves, when modeling cyclical deformation. For the nonlinear model, a dynamic stress-strain curve is required; however, only a few seconds of data are required, making model setup very straightforward. The Burgers model does not adequately capture short-term mechanical response during cycling, but the K-Z model performs much better. The results provide new insights and tools for scientists working with viscoelastic composites of the type studied here.</p>