In silico investigation of blast-induced intracranial fluid cavitation as it potentially leads to traumatic brain injury

Journal Article · Tue Oct 17 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Shock Waves

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-017-0765-1· OSTI ID:1421630

Haniff, S. ^[1]; Taylor, P. A. ^[1]

---

1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

In this paper, we conducted computational macroscale simulations predicting blast-induced intracranial fluid cavitation possibly leading to brain injury. To further understanding of this problem, we developed microscale models investigating the effects of blast-induced cavitation bubble collapse within white matter axonal fiber bundles of the brain. We model fiber tracks of myelinated axons whose diameters are statistically representative of white matter. Nodes of Ranvier are modeled as unmyelinated sections of axon. Extracellular matrix envelops the axon fiber bundle, and gray matter is placed adjacent to the bundle. Cavitation bubbles are initially placed assuming an intracranial wave has already produced them. Pressure pulses, of varied strengths, are applied to the upper boundary of the gray matter and propagate through the model, inducing bubble collapse. Simulations, conducted using the shock wave physics code CTH, predict an increase in pressure and von Mises stress in axons downstream of the bubbles after collapse. This appears to be the result of hydrodynamic jetting produced during bubble collapse. Interestingly, results predict axon cores suffer significantly lower shear stresses from proximal bubble collapse than does their myelin sheathing. Finally, simulations also predict damage to myelin sheathing, which, if true, degrades axonal electrical transmissibility and general health of the white matter structures in the brain.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Office of Naval Research (ONR) (United States); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: NA0003525
• OSTI ID: 1421630
• Report Number(s): SAND2018--0037J; PII: 765
• Journal Information: Shock Waves, Journal Name: Shock Waves Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 27; ISSN 0938-1287
• Publisher: Springer
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
cavitation
microscale model
traumatic brain injury (TBI)
virtual simulation