Cavitation as a possible Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) damage mechanism

Abstract

Cavitation has been proposed as a damage mechanism for traumatic brain injury. This paper uses simulation of simplified head models to determine the plausibility of cranial cavitation during blast events. Of particular interest is CSF which is treated with a cavitation model developed and validated for water. Ellipsoid as well as 3-D head models are considered that consist of a skull, brain matter and CSF. Simulations, conducted with a coupled fluid-structure hydrocode, suggest that cranial cavitation will occur during blast events, particularly at the contrecoup site. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.