Three-Dimensional Strain Measurements of a Tubular Elastic Model Using Tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry

The evaluation of strain induced in a blood vessel owing to contact with a medical device is of significance to examine the causes leading to vascular injury and rupture. The development of a method to assess strain in largely deformed elastic materials is expected. This study’s scope was to measure strain in deformed tubular elastic mock vessels using tomographic particle image velocimetry (tomo-PIV), and to show the applicability of this measurement method by comparing the results with data derived from a finite element analysis (FEA). Strain distribution was calculated from the displacement distribution, which in turn was measured by tracking fluorescent 13 μm particles in a transparent tubular elastic model using tomo-PIV. The von Mises strain distribution was calculated for a model whose inner diameter was subjected to a pressure load, because of which it expanded from 25 to 27.5 mm, adjusting to the diameter change of a human aorta during heartbeat. An FEA simulating the experiment was also conducted. Three-dimensional strain was successfully measured by using the tomo-PIV method. The radial strain distribution in the model linearly decreased outward (from the its inner to its outer side), and the result was consistent with the data obtained from the FEA. The mean von Mises strain measured using tomo-PIV was comparable with that obtained from the FEA (tomo-PIV: 0.155, FEA: 0.156). This study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing tomo-PIV to quantitatively assess the three-dimensional strain induced in largely deformed elastic models.