Developing a Physiologically Realistic Material Model of the Aorta for Use in Numerical Modelling

In recent years there have been numerous attempts to accurately model phenomena that occur in the cardiovascular system of the human body. Problems of the cardiovascular system are commonly associated with low survival rates, thus attracting great interest. One specific area of concern are mechanisms by which the aorta suffers heavy damage during automotive impacts. A large number of fatalities could be prevented annually with the design of new safety systems arising from a proper understanding of these mechanisms. It is well known that such injuries are a result of complex interactions between the vessels, the blood they carry and other parts of the body. As such they can only be accurately modelled using advanced multi-physics software. This research examines a number of material models for use in aortic impact problems and aspires towards the development of a layered orthotropic blood vessel model.