Linking Collagen Geometry, Waviness and Rupture Stress in Arterial Tissue: a FE2 Multiscale Approach

  • Utrera, Andrés (University of Groningen)
  • García, Claudio (Universidad Adolfo Ibañez)
  • Celentano, Diego (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile)
  • Fancello, Eduardo (Federal University of Santa Catarina)

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Multiscale modeling of arterial tissue aims to relate collagen microstructure to the nonlinear mechanical response that governs arterial function and its pathologies. In the thoracic aorta, collagen orientation, dispersion and waviness strongly influence the characteristic exponential stiffening observed in macroscopic mechanical tests, yet most constitutive models treat these effects phenomenologically [1]. The objective of this work is to develop and assess a numerically robust multiscale framework that links measured collagen architecture to its planar biaxial response and rupture-related behavior We combine planar biaxial testing of Wistar rat thoracic aorta with multiphoton imaging to quantify collagen orientation and waviness. These data are used to build three-dimensional representative volume elements (RVEs) consisting of an isotropic hyperelastic ground matrix reinforced by discrete unidimensional collagen fibers with individual recruitment stretches. Each fiber follows a simple elastic law beyond recruitment, and a simple damage model [2] is coupled to the fibers to capture stiffness loss and fracture at high stretches. This framework is implemented in the FEBio solver as a plugin [3]. The model reproduces the anisotropic nonlinear stiffening seen in the experiments and shows how variations in collagen orientation and waviness distributions modulate the macroscopic stress-strain curve and the onset of damage. Parallel RVE computation yields substantial reductions in wall-clock time relative to a serial evaluation. Although the automatic meshing strategy for the macroscopic mesh produces some low-quality elements, the coupled macro-micro formulation remains stable and converges to large deformations. The proposed framework therefore provides a practical tool to interrogate how microstructural remodeling of collagen affects arterial strength and failure, and offers a basis for future extensions to evaluate diseased tissues.