Brain Interface Behavior for Finite Element Model Development

Abstract

Approved for Public ReleaseComputational modeling of the whole head, with a focus on injury mechanisms in the brain, has the potential to elucidate factors that cause traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to serve as testbeds for developing protective equipment. However, these modes require accurate representation of interfaces between multiple structures and tissues, as well as accurate representation of interfacial tissue. Accurately modeling these interfaces requires experimental measures of the interface, data which is generally lacking. Therefore, the goal of this project is to quantify interfacial behavior in brain tissues.The proposed approach will characterize the mechanics of brain interfaces by testing slices of brain tissue. Fresh cadaveric porcine brains will be obtained. Brains will be sliced in coronal, axial and sagittal slices. Each slice will be speckled for planar digital image correlation (DIC) and placed in a custom loading fixture atop an inverted microscope. Samples will be loaded at under axial and shear loading at rates ranging from quasi-static through impact, with brightfield images acquired of the deformation using a monochrome high-speed camera. Deformation maps will be reconstructed using DIC from the acquired images. Subsequently, deformation data will be fit to phenomenological constitutive descriptions using inverse finite element analysis, to provide material parameters for whole brain modeling.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Sep 11, 2023
Source ID
N000142312825

Entities

People

  • Corinne Henak

Organizations

  • Office of Naval Research
  • United States Navy
  • University of Wisconsin System

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Mechanical Engineering/Mechanics of Materials.
  • Neurotrauma and Rehabilitation Medicine.