title: Multiphysics simulation of the effect of leaflet thickness inhomogeneity and material anisotropy on the stress-strain distribution on the aortic valve.
abstract: This study developed a realistic 3D FSI computational model of the aortic valve using the fixed-grid method, which was eventually employed to investigate the effect of the leaflet thickness inhomogeneity and leaflet mechanical nonlinearity and anisotropy on the simulation results. The leaflet anisotropy and thickness inhomogeneity were found to significantly affect the valve stress-strain distribution. However, their effect on valve dynamics and fluid flow through the valve were minor. Comparison of the simulation results against in-vivo and in-vitro data indicated good agreement between the computational models and experimental data. The study highlighted the importance of simulating multi-physics phenomena (such as fluid flow and structural deformation), regional leaflet thickness inhomogeneity and anisotropic nonlinear mechanical properties, to accurately predict the stress-strain distribution on the natural aortic valve.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT Leeds, UK; College of Engineering, King Faisal University, Hofuf- Al-Ahassa 31982, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Akram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joda
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT Leeds, UK; State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing System Engineering, Xi׳an Jiao Tong University, Xi׳an, China.
authors.forename: Zhongmin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, Hannover 30625, Germany.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haverich
authors.affiliation: Institute of Engineering Thermofluids, Surfaces and Interfaces, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT Leeds, UK; Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, Hannover 30625, Germany; Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering Implant Research and Development, Hannover Medical School, Feodor-Lynen-Strasse 31, Hannover 30625, Germany. Electronic address: korossis.sotirios@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Korossis
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
keywords: Anisotropic material model; Aortic valve; Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian; Fluid–structure interaction