Effects of Arterial Tissue Storage and Burst Failure on Residual Stress Relaxation

This study examines how the relaxation of circumferential residual stress in the aortic tissue is altered with degradation of the tissue with in-vitro storage or circumferential expansion until failure. Results show that both treatments attenuate the effects of residual stress relaxation as assessed by opening angle. Possible reasons for such alteration are discussed considering the mechanical and structural factors.