Comutational simulation of head impact injury finite element analysis

Abstract

<p>Injury to the head constitutes one of the major causes of death. Despite increased use of protective device brain injury disables or kills someone in the USA every two and a half minutes. The annual cost of hospitalization and rehabilitation within USA has been estimated to be some twenty five billion dollars. The type of injury is determined by the location and severity of the mechanical distortion of the skull bone, blood vessel and brain tissue. Biomechanical research attempts to understand the development of injury and thereby help to avoid or alleviate the damage that can occur from various impacts. Finite element modeling offers significant potential for understanding and predicting the mechanical and physical response of a brain to impact loadings. Aim of the study: The aim of this study is to get the results of computational simulation of the impact to the head and predict development of impact zone within the layers of skull-brain system and coup and countercoup contusion (at and opposite side of the impact, respectively)within the brain tissues. Methodology: We have made an analytical 3D model composed of three layersskull, cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissues in order to investigate the dynamic response of the human head when subject to direct impact events. The physiological consequences of modeling the human brain as being elastic are established. CT scan images of cadaveric head were used to make this model by using software Mimics® and finite element analysis was performed through software ABAQUS® Results: Negative pressure and positive tensile strain were observed at the site of impact (coup) while vice versa in opposite site of the impact (countercoup) at the moment of impact time. Variation in stress distribution and severity occurred as per change in velocity of the direct and indirect impact.</p><p>This presentation occurred at the Wright State University Campus-Wide Celebration of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities on April 16, 2010</p>