Numerical Simulation of Aortic Valve Leaflets Calcification Under Cyclic Loading
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Aortic bioprosthetic valves have demonstrated that calcification can lead to premature structural failure within their typical 10 to 15 years lifespan, despite generally acceptable durability. Unlike static numerical models, which fail to capture the spatio-temporal evolution of calcification under mechanical loading, this work presents a dynamic simulation approach to model calcification progression in porcine pericardium subjected to 30 million pressure cycles. Following a methodology proposed experimentally by [1], we propose here a model of calcification evolution over time, based on local mechanical parameters (strain/stress) computed by Finite Element Method, and based on a modeling approach developed in previous work [2] . To handle the high number of cycles efficiently, a cycle-jump method is used, adapted from composite fatigue studies [3]. Calcified zones are introduced as distinct materials within the pericardium mesh, with evolving material properties that depend on the local loading history. This approach allows us to capture the heterogeneity observed experimentally in calcification material properties [4]. Preliminary results will be validated against experiments [1], focusing on calcification localization and spatial distribution. Figure 1 illustrates the temporal evolution of calcified zones by formation cycle .Our model predicts a calcification surface coverage of approximately 30% in the pericardium specimens, which closely matches the experimental average of 35% observed after 10 million pressure cycles. This agreement suggests that the simulation effectively captures the key mechanisms driving calcification progression under cyclic loading. By focusing on the interaction between mechanical parameters and calcification growth, this study addresses a critical gap in bioprosthetic valve design, where geometric and material optimizations could help mitigate calcification-related failures. While this study focuses on a pericardium disk, it lays the groundwork for simulating full valve geometries [5].
