Simulation of cranial damage and fracture and validation with a head model R. A. D. Sousa∗, F. Fernandes, A. Silva, G. Carmo 1 TEMA: Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal ∗ rsousa@ua.pt Keywords: finite element method; skull; trabecular bone; cortical bone; biomechanics; head injury; sutures; skull fractures. The human head is an intricate arrangement of solid and soft tissues, governed by complex principles of materials and interactions. Computational simulations of the human head have been developed over time, achieving significant levels of detailing, complexity and accuracy. However, the majority of focus has been directed towards the brain and other internal structures. The importance of the skull, which plays a crucial role in direct head impacts, is frequently disregarded and oversimplified. In this study, a novel skull model is devised for the authors’ head model, known as YEAHM. This model preserves the original external geometry but incorporates sutures, diploë, and cortical bone, which exhibit varying thickness in different head regions based on medical craniometric data. These structures are represented using constitutive models that account for the nonlinear behavior of skull bones and their failure characteristics. The skull model is thoroughly validated by comparing simulation outcomes with experimental findings reported in existing literature, encompassing various aspects: (i) local material validation, (ii) blunt trauma resulting from direct impact on a stationary skull, (iii) three impacts at different velocities to simulate falls, and (iv) blunt ballistic temporoparietal head impacts. Accelerations, impact forces, and fracture patterns are utilized as validation metrics for the skull model. References [1] Fernandes, F.A.O.; Tchepel, D.; Alves de Sousa, R.J.; Ptak, M. Development and validation of a new finite element human head model: Yet another head model (YEAHM). Eng. Comput. (Swansea, Wales) 2018, 35, 477-496. 102
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