A mathematical model to determine viscoelastic behavior of in vivo primate brain

Abstract

Determination of mechanical properties of the constituents of the head is very essential for the construction of various theoretical and experimental head injury models. This paper represents a mathematical model for the evaluation of viscoelastic behavior of in vivo primate brain. From a theoretical mechanics point of view, the problem being considered is that of the steady state response characteristics of a solid sphere of linear viscoelastic material whose mating surface with the rigid container is free from shear stresses. The external load is taken to be a local radial harmonic excitation. First, the response of the elastic material is determined; later the elastic response solution is converted to viscoelastic response solution through the use of the correspondence principle applicable to steady state oscillations. The paper is concluded with a discussion of a method which enables the determination of the complex dynamic shear modulus of in vivo primate brain.