Simulation of the Strain Amplification in Sulci Due to Blunt Impact to the Head

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has become a concern in sports, automobile accidents and combat operations. A better understanding of the mechanics leading to a TBI is required to cope with both the short-term life-threatening effects and long-term effects of TBIs, such as the development chronic traum...

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Main Authors: Brian T. Fagan, Sikhanda S. Satapathy, J. Neal Rutledge, Steven E. Kornguth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-09-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fneur.2020.00998/full
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author Brian T. Fagan
Sikhanda S. Satapathy
J. Neal Rutledge
Steven E. Kornguth
Steven E. Kornguth
author_facet Brian T. Fagan
Sikhanda S. Satapathy
J. Neal Rutledge
Steven E. Kornguth
Steven E. Kornguth
author_sort Brian T. Fagan
collection DOAJ
description Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has become a concern in sports, automobile accidents and combat operations. A better understanding of the mechanics leading to a TBI is required to cope with both the short-term life-threatening effects and long-term effects of TBIs, such as the development chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Kornguth et al. (1) proposed that an inflammatory and autoimmune process initiated by a water hammer effect at the bases of the sulci of the brain is a mechanism of TBI leading to CTE. A major objective of this study is to investigate whether the water hammer effect is present due to blunt impacts through the use of computational models. Frontal blunt impacts were simulated with 2D finite element models developed to capture the biofidelic geometry of a human head. The models utilized the Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) method to model a layer of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as a deforming fluid allowing for CSF to move in and out of sulci. During the simulated impacts, CSF was not observed to be driven into the sulci during the transient response. However, elevated shear strain levels near the base of the sulci were exhibited. Further, increased shear strain was present when differentiation between white and gray matter was taken into account. Both of the results support clinical observations of (1).
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spelling doaj.art-c0ac8e32d97d41b5a02421d8ae143d272022-12-22T02:00:02ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952020-09-011110.3389/fneur.2020.00998537983Simulation of the Strain Amplification in Sulci Due to Blunt Impact to the HeadBrian T. Fagan0Sikhanda S. Satapathy1J. Neal Rutledge2Steven E. Kornguth3Steven E. Kornguth4U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command - Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, United StatesU.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command - Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, United StatesAustin Radiological Association, Austin, TX, United StatesDell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United StatesDepartment of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United StatesTraumatic brain injury (TBI) has become a concern in sports, automobile accidents and combat operations. A better understanding of the mechanics leading to a TBI is required to cope with both the short-term life-threatening effects and long-term effects of TBIs, such as the development chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Kornguth et al. (1) proposed that an inflammatory and autoimmune process initiated by a water hammer effect at the bases of the sulci of the brain is a mechanism of TBI leading to CTE. A major objective of this study is to investigate whether the water hammer effect is present due to blunt impacts through the use of computational models. Frontal blunt impacts were simulated with 2D finite element models developed to capture the biofidelic geometry of a human head. The models utilized the Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) method to model a layer of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as a deforming fluid allowing for CSF to move in and out of sulci. During the simulated impacts, CSF was not observed to be driven into the sulci during the transient response. However, elevated shear strain levels near the base of the sulci were exhibited. Further, increased shear strain was present when differentiation between white and gray matter was taken into account. Both of the results support clinical observations of (1).https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fneur.2020.00998/fullinjury biomechanicsfinite element analysiscomputational biomechanicstraumatic brain injuryblunt impact to head
spellingShingle Brian T. Fagan
Sikhanda S. Satapathy
J. Neal Rutledge
Steven E. Kornguth
Steven E. Kornguth
Simulation of the Strain Amplification in Sulci Due to Blunt Impact to the Head
Frontiers in Neurology
injury biomechanics
finite element analysis
computational biomechanics
traumatic brain injury
blunt impact to head
title Simulation of the Strain Amplification in Sulci Due to Blunt Impact to the Head
title_full Simulation of the Strain Amplification in Sulci Due to Blunt Impact to the Head
title_fullStr Simulation of the Strain Amplification in Sulci Due to Blunt Impact to the Head
title_full_unstemmed Simulation of the Strain Amplification in Sulci Due to Blunt Impact to the Head
title_short Simulation of the Strain Amplification in Sulci Due to Blunt Impact to the Head
title_sort simulation of the strain amplification in sulci due to blunt impact to the head
topic injury biomechanics
finite element analysis
computational biomechanics
traumatic brain injury
blunt impact to head
url https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fneur.2020.00998/full
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AT stevenekornguth simulationofthestrainamplificationinsulciduetobluntimpacttothehead
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