Numerical Modelling of AISI 316L Cardiovascular Stent Behaviour under Blood Pressure and Restenosis Loadings

In the present study, ABAQUS finite element modelling was used to explore the durability of cardiovascular stent made of AISI 316L. It was found that the blood pressure loading never causes the fracture of the stent. This result was confirmed by the application of two critical plane approaches and one mean stress criterion. However, when subjected to restenosis compressive loading the stent was found to experience an in-service failure. The last proved to be dependent on the stent diameter reduction, rate and location of restenosis. Since restenosis forms gradually and randomly within the artery, two distributions were considered and investigated. The eccentric restenosis turned out to be more deleterious than the concentric one.