ABSTRACT
Objective To propose an inverse method for determining nonlinear mechanical properties of the blood vessel based on the results of experimental data and numerical simulation.Methods Pressure loading was applied on the blood vessel to obtain the experimental data of in vitro holistic blood vessel by using the self-designed device. The finite element model of vessel inflation was established by supposing that material characteristics of the blood vessel were in corresponding with the hyperelastic Ogden model. Mechanical properties of the blood vessel were then computed by the reverse method based on these experimental data and simulated results .Results The first-order and second-order Ogden material parameters of the rabbit abdominal aorta were identified, in which α=10.86±1.98 for the first-order Ogden material model. The mechanical properties of the rabbit abdominal aorta could be characterized as the hyperelastic material. Conclusions The inverse method based on the experimental measurement and numerical simulation can be used to identify the nonlinear mechanical properties of the blood vessel.