The　objective　of　the　study　is　to　set　up　a　three-dimensional　(3D)　finite　element　model　to　study　the　effects　of　residual　strains　on　the　circumferential　stresses　and　strains　in　the　arterial　wall.　The　3D　model　will　make　numerical　calculations　of　interaction　between　blood　and　the　vessel　wall　with　residual　strains　easier　in　the　future.　The　arterial　wall　was　assumed　to　be　isotropic　and　linear　elastic,　and　then　residual　strains　were　applied　in　three　steps　while　the　physiological　point　was　set　to　100mmHg.　The　measurements　of　the　circumferential　stress　and　strain　distributions　were　performed　under　six　different　blood　pressures,　namely　80,　100,　120,　150,　180　and　200　mmHg.　The　circumferential　stress　levels　changed　from　50-150　kPa　to　-11-800a,　but　the　circumferential　strain　levels　remained　0.05-0.15　in　the　80-200mmHg　pressure　range.　The　opening　angle　of　the　arterial　ring　was　7　degrees.　Residual　strains　make　the　circumferential　stress　and　strain　distributions　in　the　arterial　wall　more　uniform　across　the　wall　thickness.　The　proposed　3D　finite　element　model　gives　valid　results.　Copyright　(C)　2007　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd.