Hydrogen bonding, being of similar strength as Van der Waals forces, play a singular role in life as they provide many of the critical, life-sustaining properties of water and also stabilize macromolecular organization producing some of the most consequential outcomes such as stabilization of…
We developed a three-dimensional computational model of the brain for studying harmonic deformations in the brain. Relevant substructures of the head are constructed from magnetic resonance imaging scans. Harmonic wave motions in a live human brain obtained in an MRE experiment were used to…
Given the complex nature of traumatic brain injury (TBI), it has been challenging to identify a single kinematic tolerance threshold that correlates directly with injury risk. In this study, we investigate the role of acceleration, velocity, and jerk on the brain tissue response in…
Blast Induced Traumatic Brain Injury (bTBI) is a serious concern to the population in the military. Axonal injury occurring due to these blasts is one potential injury mechanism currently being investigated. We are currently developing a finite element study that looks at axonal strain…
The need for a better understanding between the biomechanics of a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and the resulting immediate neuron-level changes is imperative in the design of personal protective devices or formulating post-injury treatment plans. While mTBI may not cause overt structural damage…
The ability to predict conditions which induce traumatic brain injury (TBI) should rely on the choice of injury thresholds at the scale of cells and tissues in the brain. However, injury criteria at this scale based on strain rate and strain state remain elusive…
Inclusion of the nonlinear response and fracture of the human skull bone in finite element (FE) simulations aimed at evaluating head injury due to externally applied loading will increase the biofidelity of these simulations and provide a means of identifying fracture-based injury. A challenge…
Blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) is a “signature” wound affecting service-members in modern conflicts. When a blast wave generated by an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion propagates through the head, it is hypothesized to cause direct mechanical damage to the brain tissue leading vascular…
This work focuses on the study of impacts with soft materials at high rates, particularly cases where cavity formation occurs due to these impact conditions. The study of the cavity formation during such a scenario is a difficult subject to model, as a number…
With the development of directed energy weapons (DEWs) such as high energy lasers and high-power microwave (HPM) weapons, there is a growing concern regarding the unknown biological effects that result from directed energy exposure. In this study, we create a multiphysics computational framework to…
