Title: An analytical model for investigating the role of meningeal interfaces in the brain motion relative to the skull in low-velocity head impacts

Authors: Shahab M. Baghaei, Ali M. Sadegh, Seyed Mohammad Rajaai

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, The City University of New York, The City College of CUNY, Steinam Hall Room 256, Convent Avenue and 140th Street, New York, 10031, NY, USA. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: The goal of this paper is to mathematically model the meningeal layers and to investigate the brain motion due to blunt head impact. The model consists of a spherical shell (skull), a spherical mass (brain), and series of springs-dashpots simulating the damping characteristics of the Cerebrospinal Fluid. The model is then subjected to a blunt impact. The equations of motion for this nonlinear system were obtained, solved and validated by finite element analyses. The results were compared with experimental studies and reveal that the proposed model is appropriate for parametric investigation of the relative displacement between the brain and the skull.

Keywords: low-velocity head impact; brain movement; meningeal interfaces; analytical models; skull; brain motion; mathematical modelling; blunt impact; finite element analysis; FEA.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2011.038473

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2011 Vol.5 No.1, pp.61 - 76

Published online: 21 Jan 2015 *

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