Digital Simulation of 3D Multiphase Brain Tissue Deformation during Head Impact in Automobile Crash

Using finite element models, the brain tissue deformation is simulated in the case of the head impact during crash accident. In the first part of the research the FE-model is built, in this model complex geometry of the human head, material properties and nonlinearity are considered. There are ten kinds of parts included in this model, which are neurocranium, forehead scalp, cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, callus, cerebrospinal fluid, viscerocranium, cervical vertebra, neck and shoulder. Referring the material parameters given by references for human brain tissues, the deformation under the conditions that the vehicle is impacted under certain velocities of 60km/h, 90km/h and 120km/h is simulated. The results of the digital simulation show the pressure, stress and strain distribution on the mid-sagittal plane. The results represent that the location of the contusions of the brain tissues and more important is that from these simulations it can predict the injury biomechanics of the head impact. The findings of this research work are helpful for the digital human, particularly the brain contusion mechanism study. They are also useful for the design of the head protective devices.