The Significance of Cross-Sectional Shape Accuracy and Non-Linear Elasticity on the Numerical Modelling of Cerebral Veins under Tensile Loading.

Simple Summary: Traumatic brain injuries, a primary global health concern, can lead to severe disabilities. Acute subdural haematoma is one type of traumatic brain injury resulting from the rupture of bridging veins in the brain. Existing numerical models often oversimplify these structures. This study's main goals were to understand how the cerebral vein's cross-sectional shape affects its response, more akin to real-life testing, and to introduce a hyperelastic model for these veins that captures their non-linear behaviour. The results reveal that the vein's shape significantly influences its response to stretching, highlighting the need for more realistic geometries in modelling. Additionally, hyperelastic models, like the Marlow and polynomial models, were successfully implemented. This research provides valuable insights into the mechanical properties of bridging veins and their response to tensile loading, potentially improving our understanding of traumatic brain injuries. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious global health issue, leading to serious disabilities. One type of TBI is acute subdural haematoma (ASDH), which occurs when a bridging vein ruptures. Many numerical models of these structures, mainly based on the finite element method, have been developed. However, most rely on linear elasticity (without validation) and others on simplifications at the geometrical level. An example of the latter is the assumption of a regular cylinder with a constant radius, or the geometry of the vein acquired from medical images. Unfortunately, these do not replicate the real conditions of a mechanical tensile test. In this work, the main goal is to evaluate the influence of the vein's geometry in its mechanical behaviour under tensile loading, simulating the real conditions of experimental tests. The second goal is to implement a hyperelastic model of the bridging veins where it would be possible to observe its non-linear elastic behaviour. The results of the developed finite element models were compared to experimental data available in the literature and other models. It was possible to conclude that the geometry of the vein structure influences the tensile stress–strain curve, which means that flattened specimens should be modelled when validating constitutive models for bridging veins. Additionally, the implementation of hyperelastic material models has been verified, highlighting the potential application of the Marlow and reduced polynomial (of fourth and sixth orders) constitutive models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]