title: Thermoelastic analysis of high-pressure angioplasty balloons.
abstract: Failures in angioplasty balloons are investigated using typical destructive techniques. The material properties of moulded balloons are derived from tensile tests and used to establish the reasons for failure of the balloons. Thermoelastic stress analysis is used to determine the stress distribution in the balloons, and a means of interpreting the data to derive actual stresses is described. The departure from linear elastic behaviour in the angioplasty balloons is identified using thermoelastic analysis. The results from the thermoelastic analysis are discussed and compared with those from the destructive tests, and the thermoelastic technique is shown to be a potential new means for non-destructive analysis of angioplasty balloons.
authors.affiliation: Mechanical and Aeronautical Department, University of Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eaton-Evans
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dulieu-Barton
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004548:Elasticity; D004868:Equipment Failure; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011312:Pressure; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength