title: The validation and application of a finite element human head model for frontal skull fracture analysis.
abstract: Traumatic head injuries can result from vehicular accidents, sports, falls or assaults. The current advances in computational methods and the detailed finite element models of the human head provide a significant opportunity for biomechanical study of human head injuries. The biomechanical characteristics of the human head through head impact scenarios can be studied in detail by using the finite element models. Skull fracture is one of the most frequent occurring types of head injuries. The purpose of this study is to analyse the experimental head impacts on cadavers by means of the Strasbourg University Finite Element Head Model (SUFEHM). The results of the numerical model and experimental data are compared for validation purpose. The finite element model has also been applied to predict the skull bone fracture in frontal impacts. The head model includes the scalp, the facial bone, the skull, the cerebral spinal fluid, the meninges, the cerebrum and the cerebellum. The model is used to simulate the experimental frontal head impact tests using a cylindrical padded impactor. Results of the computational simulation shows that the model correlated well with a number of experimental data and a global fracture pattern has been predicted well by the model. Therefore the presented numerical model could be used for reconstruction of head impacts in different impact conditions also the forensic application of the head model would provide a tool for investigation of the causes and mechanism of head injuries.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Ludwig Maximilian University, Nussbaumstr. 26, D80336 Munich, Germany. Electronic address: z_asgharpour@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Asgharpour
authors.affiliation: Biomechanical Systems Transport and Safety, University of Strasbourg, IMFS, 2 rue Boussingault, F-67000 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.affiliation: Biomechanical Systems Transport and Safety, University of Strasbourg, IMFS, 2 rue Boussingault, F-67000 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Willinger
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Ludwig Maximilian University, Nussbaumstr. 26, D80336 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Graw
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Industiral Technologies, Campus Tuttlingen, Hochschule Furtwangen University, Furtwangen im Schwarzwald, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peldschus
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D012887:Skull Fractures
keywords: Finite element method; Forensic science; Head injury; Skull fracture