title: Investigation of inhomogeneous and anisotropic material behavior of porcine thoracic aorta using nano-indentation tests.
abstract: This study investigates the inhomogeneity and anisotropy of porcine descending thoracic aorta in three dimensions using a custom-made nano-indentation technique and a quasi-linear viscoelastic modeling approach. The indentation tests were conducted in axial, circumferential, and radial orientations with about 100 μm spatial resolution. The ratio of the elastic moduli obtained in different orientations was used to quantify the tissue local anisotropy. The distal sections were generally stiffer than the proximal ones in both axial and circumferential indentations. Four distinct layers were identified across the thickness with significantly different mechanical properties. The stiffness of the medial quadrant was significantly lower than all other quadrants in axial indentation. The anisotropic behavior of the tissue was more pronounced in the lateral quadrant of the distal sections. The results of this study can be used to better understand the mechanisms of aorta deformation and improve the spatial accuracy of computational models of aorta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Temple University, 1947 N. 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States.
authors.forename: Golriz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kermani
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Temple University, 1947 N. 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hemmasizadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Temple University, 1947 N. 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States.
authors.forename: Soroush
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Assari
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Temple University, 3500 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, United States.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Autieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Temple University, 1947 N. 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States. Electronic address: kdarvish@temple.edu.
authors.forename: Kurosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Darvish
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016880:Anisotropy; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013552:Swine
keywords: Anisotropy; Aorta material properties; Inhomogeneity; Nano-indentation; Thoracic aorta; Viscoelasticity