A Constitutive Framework for the Inelastic Mechanical Behavior of Arteries

Abstract

A reliable constitutive model of arterial walls is an essential prerequisite to (i) understand the functions of diseased and non-diseased arteries, to (ii) optimize the design of arterial prostheses, and to (iii) improve diagnostics and therapeutical procedures that are based on mechanical treatments, such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) [1] or bypass surgery. PTA is the most frequent therapeutical intervention worldwide [2] to reduce the severity of atherosclerotic stenoses. It is of great and steadily growing medical, economical and scientific interest [3].