James McGarry Mechanical Engineering, NUI,Galway

"Finite Element Analysis of the Mechanical Performance of a Cardiovascular Stent Design based on Microscale Modelling" Abstract Cardiovascular stents are vascular support structures used in treating heart disease. They are permanent implants offering a preferred alternative to bypass surgery and have revolutionised interventional cardiology. The objective of research carried out was to simulate the mechanical behaviour of the stent using finite element analysis. Implantation and in vivo loading are considered. Finite element analysis provides a quick and cost-effective method for evaluating stent performance, yielding accurate information on the effective limits of the structure, the expanded geometry and the stress and strain deformation fields within the stent for various loading conditions without the requirement for multiple experiment. Classical phenomenological based plasticity theory (mises plasticity) and micro-structurally based crystal plasticity theories have been used to describe the material behaviour. The lattice configuration (figure A.1) of the generic stent design under consideration is fully exploited in modelling the stent behaviour.

[Fig. A.1 Stent Unit Cell]

The fundamental justification for the use of micro-structurally based crystal plasticity theory lies in the fact that the size scales of the grains (annealed 316L stainless steel) and wire thickness (100 microns) are comparable. Crystal plasticity theory, which is a representation of plastic deformation due to dislocation motion in the context of continuum mechanics, is based on computing the resolved shear stress along slip systems in each crystal of the wires in the generic stent design under analysis. Hence, it is possible to model localised microstructural phenomena (e.g. grain boundary interaction). Parametric studies are carried out using both constitutive theories, with a view to determining important stent deployment characteristics such as recoil and foreshortening. The effect of fatigue

James McGarry Mechanical Engineering, NUI,Galway

as a consequence of cardiac cycling is also considered. In addition, localised deformation fields (i.e. stress and strain distributions) are examined for both constitutive theories. Contour plots of pressure stress (negative hydrostatic stress), equivalent plastic strain (mises plasticity) and the corresponding accumulated shear strain (crystal plasticity) were obtained for purposes of comparison of the mises plasticity theory and the crystal plasticity theory analyses. The maximum principal stresses in critical tensile and compressive regions have also been outputted. Nodal output variables include displacements and co-ordinates for calculation of geometric quantities such as recoil. Comparisons of the results obtained from both theories illustrate significant differences, with crystal plasticity theory showing closer agreement to published experimental data. The continuous gradients of solution that are visible in the mises behaviour (figures 1-3) are not replicated when crystal plasticity is used to describe the constitutive behaviour of the stent. When stent behaviour is modelled using crystal plasticity theory it can be seen (figures 4-6) that the solution quantity is distributed quite non-uniformly, characterised by jagged contours at grain boundaries, not only among grains but also within grains. This is because finite elements at different locations within a grain undergo various degrees of lattice deformation. Hence, nonuniform distributions of solution quantities within grains are to be expected.

James McGarry Mechanical Engineering, NUI,Galway

Mises Plasticity Step 1 - Deployment. Pressure Stress [Fig. 1]

Crystal Plasticity Step 1 - Deployment. Pressure Stress [Fig. 4]

Step 2- Recoil. Pressure Stress [Fig. 2]

Step 2- Recoil. Pressure Stress [Fig. 5]

Step 2- Recoil. Equivalent Plastic Strain [Fig. 3]

Step 2- Recoil. Cumulative Shear Strain [Fig. 6]

James McGarry Mechanical Engineering, NUI,Galway

It is also evident that mises plasticity is incapable of modelling localised effects (figures 7-10).
Step 1 Pressure Stress plot [Fig. 7] Step 1 Pressure Stress plot [Fig. 8]

Step 1 Equivalent plastic strain plot [Fig. 9]

Step 1 Cumulative shear strain contour plot [Fig. 10]

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James McGarry Mechanical Engineering, NUI,Galway

It was also found that in the crystal plasticity analysis, the maximum principal stress redistribution after recoil is hindered by the presence of grain boundaries, which are essentially constraints enforced due to the polycrystalline nature of the stent material (figures 11-12). Due to the isotropy of mises plasticity, redistribution of stresses during recoil occurs more easily giving rise to artificially higher values of recoil and misleadingly low factors of safety in the fatigue analysis, as the effect of cardiac cycles was found to be largely dependent on the stress conditions after recoil. Crystal plasticity analyses yielded values of recoil (2.1%) and fore-shortening in direct agreement with experimental data for the generic design.
Mises Plasticity Element 4664 [Fig. 11] Crystal Plasticity Element 4664 [Fig. 12]


Through microscale modelling (crystal plasticity) more realistic and accurate finite element modelling techniques are established that can be applied to various stent designs, leading to a better understanding of the mechanical behaviour of cardiovascular stents during release and in vivo and to a development of a more effective stent design.