An aortic aneurysm (thoracic or abdominal) is a permanent dilatation of the aorta caused by weakening in the arterial wall. The feared complication is aortic rupture or dissection, leading to potentially lethal aortic bleeding and associated with mortality rates up to 95%. The current diagnosis criteria do not suffice, therefore the goal of this study is the development of an improved biomechanics-based and microstructural-based diagnostic tool.