A state-of-the-art computer model

In order to understand how rotational violence affects the risk of a brain injury, an advanced computer model of the human head and brain has been used. The computer model is based on the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) used to compute and visualise the forces and deformations in the brain. FEA has, over the past ten to fifteen years, proven its great capability to predict biomechanical responses in the human body.

In a joint venture with the Division of Neuronic Engineering at the Royal Institute of Technology and the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, MIPS AB has developed one of the most state-of-the-art FE models of the brain in the world. The model shown in figure 1 uses the FE code LSDYNA and the model has been extensively validated and compared to experiments showing its validity to predict human-like responses (Kleiven 2006).

The FE model describes the tissue and organs of interest by numerical representations of the geometry and the material properties and boundary conditions. It visualises the strain and stress levels in the biological tissue and can thus be used to predict highly loaded areas where the risk of injury is increased. The model has been used to better understand the impact biomechanics and how to optimise the energy absorption in the helmet. Figure 1 shows the strain (deformation) in the brain during an oblique impact to a head fitted with a helmet.

Figure 1 shows the strain (deformation) in the brain during an oblique impact to a head fitted with a helmet.

Kleiven, S., (2006) Evaluation of head injury criteria using a finite element model validated against experiments on localized brain motion, intracerebral acceleration, and intracranial pressure. International Journal of Crashworthiness 11(1): pp. 65-79.