Finite deformations of a hyperelastic, compressible and fibre reinforced tube

Finite torsion and axial stretch of a long, hyperelastic, compressible and circular tube is studied for the design of a prototype of small diameter vascular prosthesis. The analysis is carried out in the context of the finite elasticity theory by using a class of Ogden strain energy function augmented with unidirectional reinforcing that is characterized by a single additional constitutive parameter for strength of reinforcement. The highly non-linear differential equations with variable coefficients governing the problem are solved numerically using a Runge-Kutta method. For different prestresses supported by the tube, the effects of the combined deformation on the stress distributions are presented. (C) 2002 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.