Computational study of brain tissue response to mechanical loading

As the era of frequent human space travel nears, it becomes imperative to understand the brain’s reaction to microgravity conditions. This research delves into the intricate mechanics of brain tissue, focusing specifically on its poro-viscoelastic characteristics. Employing a novel finite element computational model, which is built on the open-source deal.II library, the study analyses experimental data from ex vivo mice brain tissue tests. The detailed investigation into the porous and viscous response separation aids in refining the model’s accuracy. Initially, post-processing of the experimental data is executed, drawing from foundational principles of poroelasticity and viscoelasticity. Subsequently, a sensitivity analysis is undertaken to identify key parameters in the computational model, enhancing the comprehension of the model’s intricacies. Importantly, the emphasis of the study remains on the brain’s biophysical behavior, avoiding any digression into algorithmic or material model modifications. With the insights obtained, the experimental setup is replicated, identifying the inherent limitations of the experiments and providing valuable pointers on potential improvements. Bridging the computational model with the experimental data, this work represents a step towards the long-term objective of comprehending brain mechanics, as well as its response to microgravity.