def prep_prony_ANSYS(df_prony, prony, E_0 = None):
    """
    Prepare ANSYS Prony series parameters for further processing.

    The ANSYS curve fitting routine for viscoelastic materials only stores
    the Prony series parameters ('tau_i', 'alpha_i') in the material card file.
    To calculate the master curve from the Prony series parameters the 
    instantenous modulus and frequency range are required and added to the
    dataframe of the ANSYS Prony series parameters.

    Parameters
    ----------
    df_prony : pandas.DataFrame
        Contains the ANSYS Prony series parameter.
    prony : dict
        Contains the Python Prony series parameter
    E_0 : float, default = None
        Instantaneous storage modulus; for either tensile (E_0) or shear (G_0) 
        loading. If E_0 is not provided the instantaneous storage modulus 
        identified during the Python curve fitting process will be used to 
        create the master curve with the ANSYS Prony series parameters.

    Returns
    -------
    prony_ANSYS : dict
        Contains the ANSYS Prony series parameter in the same format as the 
        Python implementation provides (see 'prony' Parameter above).
    """
    m = prony['modul']
    if E_0 == None:
        E_0 = prony['E_0'] #use same estimate as Python curve fitting
    f_min = prony['f_min'] #use same frequency range as Python curve fitting
    f_max = prony['f_max']
    prony_ANSYS = {'E_0': E_0, 'df_terms':df_prony, 'f_min':f_min, 
        'f_max':f_max, 'label':'ANSYS', 'modul' : m}
    return prony_ANSYS