The structure-property relations of fetal porcine brain under compressive and tensile loading

• Main Author: White, Courtney Jo
• Other Authors: Jun Liao
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: MSSTATE 2018
• Subjects: Agricultural and Biological Engineering
• Online Access: http://sun.library.msstate.edu/ETD-db/theses/available/etd-03082018-110758/

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in infants is detrimental to their development and can result in death; despite these risks, limited research has been conducted for this population. This studies purpose was to quantify biomechanical properties and microstructural changes after compressive and tensile loading of infant human brain surrogate, fetal porcine brain. Samples were loaded independently at strain rates of 0.00625s^-1, 0.025s^-1, and 0.10s^-1 at strain levels of 0%, 15%, 30%, and 45% using the Mach-1^TM Micromechanical Testing Device. After loading to the specified strain level, samples were chemically fixed using 10% formalin. Samples were then stained using H&E to evaluate the microstructure. Results showed strain rate dependency and non-linearity with higher stress levels in compression than in tension. The histological analysis confirmed microstructural changes with statistically relevant deformations after loading. These results can assist in understanding infant TBI and help develop accurate head computational models and optimal protective headgear.