A Script for Mapping Computed Tomography (CT) Values to a Finite Element(FE) Mesh for Use with a Biofidelic Skull Bone Material Model

Author(s):

Brian Fagan

Abstract:

Head protection design and evaluation involves determining whether Soldier injury will occur under a given set of impact conditions. Skull fracture is a readily identifiable and prominent indicator of head injury. Recent work completed at the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has shown the potential for biofidelically modeling skull bone and the ability to introduce biovariability in the model. This material model’s properties are determined based on the local bone volume fraction determined from corresponding computed tomography (CT) images. A script was developed within ARL to associate the CT image data with the spatial locations of a finite element mesh required by the skull bone material model of interest. With this tool, modelers will be able to more efficiently generate new models that use the biofidelic skull bone material model of interest.