Abstract

Impact forces and strain induced on the guiding struts due to impact between the disc and the struts during the opening and closing phases were measured with a Björk-Shiley monostrut valve in a pulse duplicator simulating physiological pulsatile flow. The maximum impact force imparted on the valve housing during the closing phase of the valve was measured to be 25N for a range of aortic pressures between 13.3 to 21.3 kPa (100 to 160 mm Hg). The maximum value of impact forces on the inlet and outlet struts computed from the force equilibrium were found to be 17N and 9N respectively. However the maximum strain and stress of 2.4 × 10−4 m/m and 47 MPa respectively were measured at the root of the outlet struts, while the strains and stresses at the roots of the inlet strut were negligible. The results of such measurements may be extended for the analysis of the endurance limit and optimal design of the components of a mechanical valve.

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