Multiscale Biomechanical Modeling of the Brain

Multiscale Biomechanical Modeling of the Brain discusses the constitutive modeling of the brain at various length scales (nanoscale, microscale, mesoscale, macroscale and structural scale). In each scale, the book describes the state-of-the- experimental and computational tools used to quantify critical deformational information at each length scale. Then, at the structural scale, several user-based constitutive material models are presented, along with real-world boundary value problems. Lastly, design and optimization concepts are presented for use in occupant-centric design frameworks. This book is useful for both academia and industry applications that cover basic science aspects or applied research in head and brain protection.

The multiscale approach to this topic is unique, and not found in other books. It includes meticulously selected materials that aim to connect the mechanistic analysis of the brain tissue at size scales ranging from subcellular to organ levels.

1. Introduction to multiscale modeling
2. Downscaling (Macroscale to nanoscale) multiscale paradigm -Discuss on things related damage/strength, stiffness, vibrations/resonance -Temperature, strain rate and stress state -Fatigue, creep and overloads
3. DFT; Electronics for organic molecules
4. Nanoscale Atomistics and Molecular Dynamics
5. Microscale Mechano-Physiological Modeling and Coarse-Grain Molecular Dynamics
6. Mesoscale Finite Element Modeling
7. Macroscale Thermodynamic Framework and Modeling
8. Structural Scale - Brain's VUmat file calibration, and validation - Blast Finite Element Simulations (high rate) -Blunt Impact Simulations (intermediate rate) - Car Crash Simulations (intermediate rate)
9. Robust Multi-objective design and optimization
10. Summary and conclusions

CAVS Chair Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mississippi State University

Dr. Horstemeyer has published over 350 journal articles, conference papers, books, and technical reports. He has won many awards including the R&D 100 Award, AFS Best Paper Award, Sandia Award for Excellence, the SAE Teetor Award and was a consultant for the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. He is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society of Metals, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Before coming to MSU, he worked at Sandia National Laboratories for 15 years where he worked on a myriad of projects mostly focusing on weapons programs but transferred the research and technologies developed at Sandia to the automotive industry.
Dr. Raj K. Prabhu is the Deputy Project Scientist, NASA Human Research Program's (HRP's) Cross-Cutting Computational Modeling Project (CCMP) at Universities Space Research Association. In his current position, Dr. Prabhu supports CCMP's computational modeling efforts to investigate human physiological responses to space stressors and provide modeling and simulation-based support to mitigate HRP-related risks. Before the CCMP role, Dr. Raj Prabhu jointly served as an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Associate Director at the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, Mississippi State University (MSU), Starkville, MS. Dr. Prabhu obtained his doctoral and master's degrees in mechanical engineering and computational engineering respectively. He completed his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, Chennai, India. Dr. Prabhu's research background is in multiscale modeling, integrated computational biomedical modeling, dynamic responses of soft tissue, bio-inspired design, and human-centric structural design. Dr. Prabhu has made novel contributions to the multiscale biomechanics of traumatic brain injury due to external mechanical loads and a bio-inspired football helmet design.