Implementing a micromechanical model into a finite element code to simulate the mechanical and microstructural...

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Computational mechanics
• Biomaterials science

Background:

• Arterial tissue mechanics are complex, influenced by microstructural features like collagen fiber orientation.
• Accurate simulation of arterial tissue behavior is crucial for understanding disease and developing treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a computational strategy for simulating the mechanical response of arterial tissues using the finite element method.
• To develop a constitutive model that incorporates adventitial collagen fiber rotations and measurable parameters.
• To investigate the influence of microstructural, histological features, and collagen disorders on arterial tissue mechanics.

Main Methods:

• Finite element method (FEM) for mechanical response simulation.
• Development of a refined constitutive model accounting for collagen fiber rotations.
• Validation of the model against experimental findings using histological data.

Main Results:

• The computational model accurately predicts both micro- and macroscopic mechanical behavior of arterial tissues.
• The model successfully reveals the influence of histological features on material behavior.
• The study demonstrates the model's capability to simulate the effects of collagen disorders on arterial mechanics.

Conclusions:

• The proposed FEM-based computational strategy provides a robust tool for simulating arterial tissue mechanics.
• The refined constitutive model, validated by experimental data, accurately captures the role of microstructural components.
• This approach facilitates the investigation of how collagen disorders impact arterial tissue mechanical properties.