A numerical-experimental method for integrating strain and fiber structure for the aortic valve

摘要

To create a more durable bioprosthetic valve the mechanics of chemically treated leaflet tissues must be examined more closely. Current knowledge of valve properties is based on the average response of the tissue under uniaxial or biaxial loading. These methods are insufficient to study the complex response of the leaflet due to its heterogeneous structure and small size. We have developed a numerical-experimental method that determines the relationship between the local tissue structure and localstrains which result from macroscopically applied biaxial loading. The present method utilizes a second order finite element to calculate the non-homogeneous strain field and small angle light scattering (SALS) to determine the local tissue structure.