Computational Modeling of Skull Bone Structures and Simulation of Skull Fractures Using the YEAHM Head Model

Abstract

The human head is a complex multi-layered structure of hard and soft tissues, governed by complex materials laws and interactions. Computational models of the human head have been developed over the years, reaching high levels of detail, complexity, and precision. However, most of the attention has been devoted to the brain and other intracranial structures. The skull, despite playing a major role in direct head impacts, is often overlooked and simplified. In this work, a new skull model is developed for the authors’ head model, the YEAHM, based on the original outer geometry, but segmenting it with sutures, diploë, and cortical bone, having variable thickness across different head sections and based on medical craniometric data. These structures are modeled with constitutive models that consider the non-linear behavior of skull bones and also the nature of their failure. Several validations are performed, comparing the simulation results with experimental results available in the literature at several levels: (i) local material validation; (ii) blunt trauma from direct impact against stationary skull; (iii) three impacts at different velocities simulating falls; (iv) blunt ballistic temporoparietal head impacts. Accelerations, impact forces, and fracture patterns are used to validate the skull model.

Mechanical Strength Study of a Cranial Implant Using Computational Tools

“…The base finite element head model used in this work is the YEAHM (YEt Another Head Model), initially developed by Fernandes et al [22] and afterwards improved by Migueis et al [23], Costa et al [24], and Barbosa et al [25]. The model comprises a skull, brain, CSF, bridging veins (BV), and superior sagittal sinus (SSS).…”

“…In the original model, the bone that makes up the skull was homogeneous and did not feature the distinction between cortical bone, trabecular bone, or cranial sutures. These details were added by Barbosa et al [25], including a damage model. The material of the brain was modeled as hyper-viscoelastic, the CSF was considered to be a hyperelastic material, the SSS and BV were modeled with an elastoplastic law, and, in the model proposed by Barbosa et al [25], the trabecular bone was modeled as elastic-plastic material, and the cortical bone and cranial sutures as quasi-brittle material.…”

Management Of Depressed Skull Fracture

“…In our study the most common sight of depressed skull fracture was parietal bone 36%, temporal bone 28%, frontal bone 24% and 8% in occipital region while in report of Miura F K Plage J P in series fronto parietal bone were involved in Physical examination is difficult due to swelling of wounds. In our study most of the patients presents with Glasgow Comma Scale (GCS) 8-12 while in others study they were 12-15 .Glasgow coma Scale were used to observe the outcome in 21,22 management of skull fracture.…”

Utilization of the Validated Windshield Material Model in Simulation of Tram to Pedestrian Collision

“…The main idea here was to create an experimental setup that can be used for the validation and verification of the windshield model for the purposes of this work (i.e., impact of the human head, with the travelling speed of the tram). The standard process of head testing used the normalized head impactor [ 25 , 26 ], head FE model [ 27 ], or dummy model [ 28 ]. However, for our purposes, only the similar impact conditions (impactor stiffness, mass, velocity, and energy) must be satisfied, as the equivalent numerical model are created to compared with experimental results.…”