ABSTRACT
Objective To simulate the interaction between the stent graft (SG) and the aortic wall with finite element (FE) analysis by considering the influence of residual stress field, so as to study the stent influence on stress distributions of the aortic wall. Methods The three-dimensional (3D) residual stress field was generated in an idealized bi-layered thick-wall aortic model via a stress-driven anisotropic growth model by reducing the transmural stress gradient. Upon virtually deploying the SG, the stress on the aortic wall was calculated. Results The 3D residual stress field, corresponding to an opening angle of 117.5°, was shown to reduce the transmural stress gradient in both the circumferential and axial directions. The maximum stress was found at the contact area between aortic wall and wave peak of the stent. At 20% oversize ratio of the stent, the maximum stresses on the aortic wall in circumferential and axial direction were 412 and 132 kPa, respectively, while the in-plane shear stresses σrθ and σrz were both 78 kPa. Under residual stress, the maximum radial, circumferential and axial stresses were decreased by 14.9%, 40.5% and 33.8%, respectively, while the maximum shear stresses σrθ ，σrz，σθz were reduced by 2.5%, 7.1% and 27%, respectively. With the increase of oversize ratio from 10% to 20%, the maximum radial, circumferential and axial stresses were increased by 316%, 129% and 41%, respectively, while the maximum shear stresses σrθ ，σrz，σθz were increased by 661%, 450% and 466%, respectively. Conclusions The residual stress can effectively reduce the transmural stress gradient. Both the residual stress and the oversize ratio of the stent play an important role in modulating the wall stress distribution and the maximum stress.