Silicone is a synthetic polymer consisting of a linear backbone of repeating, alternating silicone and oxygen atoms. Each silicone atom has two groups attached to it, referred to as R groups, representing any organic group that may be attached to the backbone. These rubbers can therefore undergo large recoverable deformations, hence the wide use of silicone rubbers as material analogues in the study of arterial vessels [1,2] and other soft tissues. Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are permanent irreversible dilations of the infrarenal section of the aorta that will eventually expand to the point of rupture if left untreated. Many previous studies have focussed on the numerical prediction of wall stresses and ultimately rupture prediction of AAAs [3,4]. However, there have been limited reports as to how these aneurysms behave experimentally [2,5]. Also, previous experimental work has employed the use of a single material to represent the AAA wall, even though it is known that a realistic AAA may have differing materials properties at various locations throughout the aneurysm [6].
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