Investigating the material modelling of a polymeric bioresorbable scaffold via in-silico and in-vitro testing

The accurate material modelling of poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) is vital in conducting finite element analysis polymeric bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) to investigate their mechanical performance and seek improved scaffold designs. To date, a large variety models have been utilised, ranging from simple elasto-plastic high fidelity parallel network models. However, no clear consensus has reached on the appropriateness these different whether simple, less computationally expensive can serve as acceptable approximations. Therefore, we present study which explored use isotropic anisotropic simulating balloon expansion radial crushing thin-strut (sub-100 ?m) ArterioSorbTM BRS using Abaqus/Explicit (DS SIMULIA) solution method. Stress–strain data was obtained via tensile tests at two displacement rates. transversely elastic theories explored, well implementation stress relaxation plastic regime material. quantified its post-expansion diameter, percentage recoil strength. in-silico results were validated comparison with in-vitro an analogous bench test. Accurately predicting both shape strength found be challenging in-built Abaqus novel user-defined model developed VUMAT subroutine functionality by facilitating variable yield ratio, dependent upon strain overly strained elements. This achieved prediction within 1.1% scaffold’s diameter 6.7%. A realistic multi-balloon simulation strategy also used confirmed that mechanism exists PLLA facilitates extremely low behaviour observed BRS. could not captured aforementioned property