Internal cavitation in simple head impact model

A two-dimensional computational model is used to evaluate the potential for cavitation to occur inside the brain material during head impact. The model represents a simple water-filled 14-cm-diameter, 5-cm-deep cylinder. For the purpose of our study, this cylinder represents the skull while the water inside the cylinder represents the brain material. To ensure that the stress predicted by the model is realistic, it has been calibrated against experimental data. When the cylinder is struck by a free-flying mass cavitation is initiated at the boundary opposite impact. Significant vaporous regions may develop at the boundary, while only limited vaporization occurs internally. Higher accelerations, or an additional loading of the domain by a constant acceleration perpendicular to impact, adds to the likelihood and to the severity of internal cavitation. This indicates that preexisting conditions or complex loading conditions of the head during an impact event may affect the cavitation response. Such conditions could be the result of angular velocity, angular accelerations, or head accelerations as a result of neck loading.