Analysis of the Injury Mechanism of Traumatic Craniocerebral Injury from Falls Based on Finite Element Simulation

doi:10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2024.440510

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective To use finite element methods to conduct a digital simulation of a craniocerebral injury death case in which the manner of injury was questionable. Based on biomechanical data, the injury mechanism of the deceased’s brain injury was quantitatively analyzed to provide a quantitative and visual objective basis for determining the manner of injury. Methods The THUMS 4.02 human finite element model was used to simulate the process of skull and brain tissue injury when the occipital region fell and struck flat ground, with impact velocities of 4.18, 5.00, 5.50 and 6.00 m/s. Combined with the actual autopsy results, the injury mechanism was analyzed based on injury patterns and tissue stress characteristics. Results When the human body fell freely without external force （4.18 m/s） and landed on the occipital region, it caused minor fractures of the occipital bone and mild brain tissue injury; when the body was pushed to the ground by external forces （5.00, 5.50 and 6.00 m/s）, the fracture range of the skull extended to the skull base, causing moderate brain tissue injury. Based on the actual injury findings, the possibility that the deceased fell freely can be ruled out. Conclusion Reconstructing the process of traumatic brain injury using the finite element method can provide new ideas for determining the mechanism of injury in complex forensic cases through biomechanical indicators.

Key words: forensic pathology, finite element method, biomechanics, craniocerebral injury, injury mechanism

CLC Number:

Jie YANG, Yi-lei HU, Jin-ming WANG, Zheng-dong LI. Analysis of the Injury Mechanism of Traumatic Craniocerebral Injury from Falls Based on Finite Element Simulation[J]. Journal of Forensic Medicine, 2026, 42(1): 1-7.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig. 1 Craniocerebral injury of the deceased

Fig. 2 Schematic diagram of simulating the process of human body falling

Fig. 3 Setup of the finite element model of the human body

Fig. 4 Equivalent stress contour plots of the skull at different impact velocities

Fig. 5 Equivalent stress curves of the skull at different impact velocities

Fig. 6 Equivalent stress curves of the brain tissue at different impact velocities

Fig. 7 Equivalent stress contour plots of the brain tissue at different impact velocities

Fig. 8 Intracranial pressure variation curves at the skull contrecoup impact site

Fig. 9 Comparison between simulation results and actual cases

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