A simple physical model was used to help evaluate the effect of the stresses generated in the brain during head impact. The biomechanical phenomena of interest were: (1) the skull-dura-boundary; (2) material flow through the foremen magnum; (3) the effects of skull deformation; and (4) the effects of free gas in the brain. The physical model was impacted by a 10 kg free-flying mass. During impact, the contact force, the acceleration, and the fluid pressures at various points in the physical model were measured. A finite-difference simulation which can address phenomena such as cavitation and the fluid motion was used to evaluate the pressure response of the physical model to impact. The analysis of these data model to impact. The analysis of these data indicate that the boundary conditions at the interface of the skull-dura coupled with material flow through the foramen magnum significantly affect the stresses generated in the brain during impact to the head. (A)
Abstract