A review is given of papers on finite element modeling of head impact that have been published in 1982-1992. The main conclusions as to the progress made in this decade can be summarized as follows. The constructive models used are predominantly linearly elastic or viscoelastic, the former almost all in combination with small-deformation theory and the latter with large deformations. Only one model included both non-linear viscoelasticity and large deformations. Utilization of this type of sophisticated models continues to be hampered by the lack of consistent and complete experimental data. Successful efforts have been made to implement more realistic boundary conditions allowing relative motion between the skull and the brain. Boundary conditions at the head-neck junction need further investigation. The same holds for the application of scaling methods to both models with different geometries, and similar-shaped models with different boundary conditions at the interfaces between the substructures. Increasing use is made of physical models both for validating finite element modeling techniques and as a starting point for parametric studies. (A)
Abstract