Abstract
Brain tissue is a heterogeneous material with complicated microstructural features. Models based on microstructure can lead to more accurate and physically realistic predictions of mechanical characteristics of brain tissue. A two-step Mori-Tanaka/Voigt homogenization procedure is implemented into a 3D microstructurally-based multi-phase composite model, composed of randomly-oriented elastic axons, dendrites and neuronal cell bodies surrounded by an elastic matrix. The effects of microstructure-related scale on the effective elastic moduli of the cerebral cortex are analyzed by comparing the predictions from classical and micropolar continuum theories. For the first time, composite material rules and micropolar continuum theory have been utilized to investigate brain biomechanics. These findings can assist future efforts to be directed towards relating the microstructural aspects of the brain tissue to its macroscopic behavior.
Highlights
Mechanical modeling of brain tissue is important because it may find a variety of different applications in medicine such as study of hydrocephalus, robotic surgery and traumatic brain injury simulation [1,2]
To investigate how the microstructure of the brain contributes to brain tissue biomechanical characteristics, mechanics and physics of heterogeneous composite materials which are used in modern industry could be one of the most useful tools
In order to determine the effective elastic moduli of CNS gray matter, we are dealing with a multi-phase composite such that a matrix material is reinforced with multiple phases of misaligned axons, dendrites and neuronal cell bodies
Summary
Mechanical modeling of brain tissue is important because it may find a variety of different applications in medicine such as study of hydrocephalus, robotic surgery and traumatic brain injury simulation [1,2]. In composite material, where matrix material has a coarse microstructure, microstructural effects (size effects and non-local nature of the material) become important [9] In this case, classical continuum theory should not be used and one should resort to enhanced homogenization is to relate the volume averages of symmetric stress σ Ω and strain ε Ω by ε Ω = Dc : σ Ω , within a statistically representative volume element (RVE). In addition to implement classical micromechanichal approach to determine effective moduli of CNS gray matter, it is worthwhile to consider it as a micropolar composite and estimate microstructure-related scale effects on the results. In order to determine the effective elastic moduli of CNS gray matter, we are dealing with a multi-phase composite such that a matrix material is reinforced with multiple phases of misaligned axons, dendrites and neuronal cell bodies.
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