Key result
Dual-estimation framework reveals proximal ascending aorta is most compliant while abdominal aorta stiffens earlier.
Why the study?
Numerical modeling of regional aortic mechanics using standard models suffers from nonuniqueness, sensitivity to outliers, and failure to couple volumetric and anisotropic responses.
A novel regularized dual-estimation framework improves the modeling of regional variations in aortic mechanics, demonstrating that the abdominal aorta stiffens earlier than the proximal segments.
Should not yet influence human aortic assessment; extends regional mechanics modeling in animals but leaves clinical translation open.
The aorta shows significant regional variation in geometry and composition. This complexity makes numerical modeling challenging, as it requires identifying material parameters. Typically, the Holzapfel-Gasser-Ogden model is used. However, it suffers from nonuniqueness and sensitivity to outliers, which can obscure biological variation. In addition, standard compressible formulations with a volumetric-isochoric split fail to couple volumetric and anisotropic responses. To address these issues, a regularized dual-estimation framework was introduced. This framework combines a global baseline estimator with local refinement while maintaining structural material continuity. Furthermore, it uses a Modified Anisotropic model to improve the representation of compressibility physics. For validation, the approach included uniaxial extension and protein quantification from Wistar rats. The results show that the proximal ascending/aortic-arch segment is most compliant at low stretch, whereas the abdominal aorta stiffens earlier and becomes fiber-dominated at lower stretch levels. Notably, these trends align directionally with regional composition. However, the fitted stress components are model-based descriptors rather than direct measurements of individual constituents.
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Lahuerta et al. (2026) studied Aortic mechanics. Regularized dual-estimation framework with Modified Anisotropic model vs. Standard compressible formulations (Holzapfel-Gasser-Ogden model) was evaluated on Regional variation in aortic mechanics (compliance and stiffness). A regularized dual-estimation framework revealed that the proximal ascending/aortic-arch segment is most compliant at low stretch, whereas the abdominal aorta stiffens earlier.
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