Abstract

Computational models and simulation are important tools to investigate the mechanisms underlying traumatic brain injury (TBI); their accuracy depends strongly on accurate model parameters, including the mechanical properties of the brain and its interactions with the skull. However, most existing TBI modeling studies are performed using material properties derived from animal tissue obtained after death. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) provides a non-invasive method for estimating the mechanical properties of soft tissue. The overall objective of this thesis is to characterize the biomechanical properties of brain tissue and brain-skull interface in the minipig by using MRE. This was achieved through pursuit of the following aims: (1) estimating the anisotropic mechanical properties of brain tissue during development, using an underlying nearly- incompressible transversely isotropic (NITI) model; (2) quantifying the differences in anisotropic mechanical properties between in vivo and in situ brain tissue, and assessing the importance of in vivo measurement; (3) characterizing the mechanical behavior of brain-skull interface and quantifying its post-mortem changes; (4) extending analysis of elastic wave propagation in the NITI model to a two-fiber-family model with unequal fiber families, and relating shear wave speeds to material parameters.

Committee Chair

Philip Bayly

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Author's Department

Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science

Author's School

McKelvey School of Engineering

Document Type

Dissertation

Date of Award

4-30-2024

Language

English (en)

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