Aortic Valve Leaflet Motion during Systole

Abstract

An approximate numerical-graphical solution was made for the motion of a human aortic valve leaflet in a meridional plane through the center of the sinus of Valsalva. The observed buckling, whipping action of the leaflet was obtained. Of primary significance in the results was the location and the determination of the maximum curvature of the leaflet in this plane, since this point corresponds to the point of maximum fatigue bending stress. The approximate dimensionless curvature was on the order of 3.5 (referred to the aortic diameter) at a dimensionless radial location of 0.55-0.6. The most important feature determining leaflet curvature and motion was the initial contour shape. The initial shape of a normal human leaflet produces smaller curvatures than the curved shapes usually illustrated for aortic valves.