Abstract des Autors

In this study, the finite element (FE) method is implemented in order to examine the reaction of the brain under a fall and impact loading. The head and its constituent parts are designed by three-dimensional (3-D) FEs. Soft tissues and the brain are modeled as viscoelastic material and assembled by various types of elements. In the analysis, the ground is regarded as the impactor and is also simulated by 3-D FEs. The fall, or accident, is assumed to happen under different heights, or velocities. Such scenarios are considered to represent the realistic falls, or accidents, which might occur in sports, or in other situations. The impacting ground might be of different material, rigidity and stiffness. In this study, the sensitivity of the injury in the brain is studied using different materials, different heights of the fall and different velocities. The materials used for the ground are wood, polymer carpet, soil and concrete slabs. The intracranial coup pressure, contrecoup pressure and shear stresses in the brain and skull are monitored during the impact and are recorded for the analysis. Under each impact, the coup pressure and shear stress peaks in the brain are observed. Such results are proportional functions to the stiffness of the ground and the velocity of the head. The computational results of this FE head model are consistent with the cadaveric experiments of previous studies.