Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) pose a serious risk of rupture, yet current clinical guidelines often rely on diameter thresholds rather than direct mechanical insights into tissue stress and general vulnerability. A better understanding of how aneurysmal vs. healthy aortic tissue responds to physiological loading could help inform improved diagnostic and treatment strategies.

I developed patient-specific finite element analysis (FEA) models of both aneurysmal and healthy abdominal aortic tissue to evaluate their biomechanical responses under physiological loading conditions. Using IowaFEMesh and CT scans of patients' anatomy, I constructed 3D models of aneurysmal and healthy abdominal aortic vasculature. 

Using ABAQUS, I incorporated hyperelastic material properties derived from experimental literature and applied loading conditions that simulated physiologic loading, while performing mesh refinement to ensure numerical accuracy. Key metrics such as von Mises stress distribution, displacement, and wall strain were extracted and compared between healthy and diseased models.