Nonlinear Finite Element Modeling and Validation of Traumatic Brain 
Injury in Motor Vehicle Collisions

doi:10.16638/j.cnki.1671-7988.2026.001.003

Abstract

Abstract: Accurate prediction of traumatic brain injury (TBI)in motor vehicle collisions is crucial for vehicle safety design and injury biomechanics research.Existing finite element head models (FEHM)suffer from insufficient predictive accuracy due to simplified constitutive relationships for brain tissue,limiting their application in automotive safety development.This paper develops an improved nonlinear finite element model of head impact based on Nahum's cadaveric experimental data,introducing the Mooney-Rivlin hyperelastic constitutive model to characterize the cerebrum, cerebellum,and brainstem,and employs adaptive meshing technology to optimize model accuracy. ABAQUS simulations reproducing a 9 .94 m/s frontal impact condition demonstrate that intracranial pressure peak prediction errors at four representative locations (impact side,contralateral side,upper occipital region,and lower occipital region)are highly consistent with Nahum's cadaveric experimental data,with better peak time synchronization.Comparison with a linear viscoelastic model shows that the hyperelastic model improves predictive accuracy by 15%～20%and effectively eliminates pressure oscillations.This high-biofidelity model provides a valuable simulation tool for automotive crash safety design,head injury criteria optimization,and virtual testing validation,demonstrating significant engineering value for improving occupant and pedestrian protection.

Key words: motor vehicle collision;head injury;finite element model;Mooney-Rivlin hyperelastic constitutive model;biomechanics

摘要： 汽车碰撞事故中颅脑损伤（TBI）的精确预测是车辆安全设计与损伤生物力学研究的关键。现有头部有限元模型（FEHM）因脑组织本构关系简化导致预测精度不足，制约了其在汽车安全开发中的应用。文章基于Nahum 经典尸体实验数据，构建了改进的颅脑碰撞非线性有限元模型，引入 Mooney-Rivlin 超弹性本构表征大脑、小脑及脑组织，并采用自适应网格技术优化模型精度。通过 ABAQUS 仿真再现 9 .94 m/s 额部碰撞工况，在碰撞侧、对侧、上枕及下枕四个典型位置测点的颅内压力峰值与 Nahum 尸体实验数据高度吻合，且峰值出现时间同步性良好。与线性黏弹性模型对比表明，超弹性模型预测精度提升 15%～20%，并有效消除了压力振荡现象。该模型为汽车碰撞安全设计、头部损伤准则优化及虚拟试验验证提供了高生物逼真度的仿真工具，对提升驾乘人员与行人保护具有工程应用价值。

关键词: 汽车碰撞；头部损伤；有限元模型；Mooney-Rivlin 超弹性本构；生物力学

XIAO Feng1 ,JIN Qi2 ,LI Chenxi1 ,DING Junjie 1,JIA Yunran1. Nonlinear Finite Element Modeling and Validation of Traumatic Brain Injury in Motor Vehicle Collisions[J]. Automobile Applied Technology, 2026, 51(1): 17-24.

肖峰 1，金琪 2，李晨曦 1，丁俊杰 1，贾雲然 1. 汽车碰撞事故中颅脑损伤非线性有限元建模与验证[J]. 汽车实用技术, 2026, 51(1): 17-24.

References

[1 ] MAAS A I R,MENON D K,MANLEY G T,et al. Traumatic Brain Injury:Progress and Challenges in Prevention,Clinical Care,and Research[J].The Lancet Neurology,2022,21(1 1):1004-1060 . [2 ] WILSON L,STEWART W,DAMS-O'CONNOR K,et al.The Chronic and Evolving Neurological Conseque nces of Traumatic Brain Injury[J].The Lancet Neurology, 2017,16(10):813-825 . [3 ] HOOFIEN D,GILBOA A,VAKIL E,et al.Traumatic Brain Injury(TBI)10-20 Years Later:A Comprehensive Outcome Study of Psychiatric Symptomatology,Cogn itive Abilities and Psychosocial Functioning[J].Brain Injury,2001,15(3):189-209 . [4 ] 赵玮,阮世捷,李海岩,等.脑组织本构模型及其生物力学特性分析[J].医用生物力学,2014,29(1):85-92 . [5 ] DIXIT P,LIU G R.A Review on Recent Development of Finite Element Models for Head Injury Simulations [J].Archives of Computational Methods in Engineering, 2017,24(4):979 -1031. [6 ] FELFELIAN A M,NAJAR A B,NEDOUSHAN R J,et al.Determining Constitutive Behavior of the Brain Tissue Using Digital Image Correlation and Finite Element Modeling[J].Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology,2019,18(6):1927-1945 . [7 ] RUAN J S,KHALIL T B,KING A I.Finite Element Modeling of Direct Head Impact:SAE Technical Paper 933114[R].Warrendale:SAE,1993. [8 ] ZHOU C,KHALIL T B,KIN G A I.A New Model Com paring Impact Responses of the Homogeneous and Inhomogeneous Human Brain:SAE Technical Paper 952714[R].Warrendale:SAE,1995. [9 ] MAO H J,ZHANG LY,JIANG B H,et al.Development of a Finite Element Human Head Model Partially Vali dated with Thirty Five Experimental Cases[J].Journal of Biomechanical Engineering,2013,135(1 1):1-15 . [10] KLEIVEN S,HARDY W N.Correlation of an FE Model of the Human Head with Local Brain Motion:Conseq uences for Injury Prediction[J].Stapp Car Crash Journal, 2002,53:123-144 . [11] IWAMOTO M,KISANUKI Y,WATANABE I,et al. Development of a Finite Element Model of the Total Human Model for Safety(THUMS)and Application to Injury reconstruction[C]//Proceedings of the 2002 International IRCOBI Conference.Munich:International Research Council on the Biomechanics of Injury (IRCOBI),2002:31-42 . [12] IWAMOTO M,N AKAHIRA Y,TAMURA A,et al. Development of a Finite Element Model of the Total Human Model for Safety(THUMS)and Application to Injury Reconstruction[C]//Proceedings of the 6th Euro pean LS-DYNA Users'Conference.Munich:European LS-DYNA Users'Conference (Organizing Committee), 2007:47-56 . [13] GHAJARI M,HELLYER P,SHARP D.Computational Modelling of Traumatic Brain Injury Predicts the Loc ation of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Pathology [J].Brain,2017,140(2):333-343. [14] WILLINGER R,TALEB L,KOPP C M.Modal and Temporal Analysis of Head Mathematical Models[J]. Journal of Neurotrauma,1995,12(4):743-754 . [15] WITTEK A,LAPORTE J,MILLER K,et al.Computing Reaction Forces on Surgical Tools for Robotic Neurosurgery and Surgical Simulation[C]//Proceedings of 2004 Australasian Conference on Robotics and Auto matism.Canberra:Australasian Conference on Robotics and Automation,2004:1-8 . [16] 芦俊鹏,张建国,RUAN J,等.人体颅脑三维有限元模型构建[J].微计算机信息,2006(22):2 11-212,17. [17] 李海岩,苏航杰,祝贺,等.中国体征 3 岁儿童乘员损伤仿生模型在C-NCAP 正面碰撞测试仿真中的应用[J]. 汽车工程,2022,44(12):1944-1953. [18] 包永涛,李海岩,赵玮,等.第 95 百分位人体头部有限元模型的构建及分析[J].天津科技大学学报,2010,25 (4):48-51 . [19] YWITTEK A,NIELSEN P M F,MILLER K.Computat ional Biomechanics for Medicine[M].New York:Spr inger,2011:5-14 . [20] YANG S C,TANG J S,NIE B B,et al.Assessment of Brain Injury Characterization and Influence of Mod eling Approaches[J].Scientific Reports,2022,12(1): 13597. [21] TSE K M,TAN L B,LEE S J,et al.Development and Validation of Two Subject-Specific Finite Element Models of Human Head Against Three Cadaveric Experiments[J].International Journal for Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering,2013,30(3):397 - 415. [22] 羊玢,范李晖,胡敏,等.汽车碰撞事故中人体头部损伤有限元模型的研究[J].汽车工程,2016,38(2):168-173, 210. [23] MACMANUS D B,GHAJARI M.Material Properties of Human Brain Tissue Suitable for Modelling Trau matic Brain Injury[J].Brain Multiphysics,2022,3(C): 100059. [24] LU H T,LI W B,DU Q L.Comparison of Mechanical Response of Head Structure with Different Brain Mat erial Models under Impact[J].Journal of Physics:Con ference Series,2024(7):072004 . [25] 蔡志华,刘春平,常利军.脑组织压缩力学性能和本构模型[J].医用生物力学,2024,39(1):55-61 . [26] CALHOUN M A,BENTIL S A,ELLIOTT E,et al. Beyond Linear Elastic Modulus:Viscoelastic Models for Brain and Brain Mimetic Hydrogels[J].ACS Bio- materials Science &Engineering,2019,5(8):3964-3973 . [27] VOYIADJIS G Z,SAMADI-DOOKI A.Hyperelastic Modeling of the Human Brain Tissue:Effects of No Slip Boundary Condition and Compressibility on the Uniaxial Deformation[J].Mechanics of Behavior in Biomedical Materials,2018,83:63-78 . [28] 李海岩,赵玮,阮世捷,等.第 95 百分位中国人头部颅脑相对位移的有限元评估[J].医用生物力学,2012,27 (2):198-206 . [29] LYU D,ZHOU R Z,LIN C H,et al.Development and Validation of a New Anisotropic Visco-Hyperelastic Human Head Finite Element Model Capable of Predi cting Multiple Brain Injuries[J].Frontiers in Bioeng ineering and Biotechnology,2022,10(10):831595 . [30] OMMAYA A K.Mechanical Properties of Tissues of the Nervous System[J].Journal of Biomechanics,1968 , 1(2):127-138 . [31] 肖峰.汽车碰撞中人体头部非线性有限元本构模型的研究[D].南京:南京林业大学,2018. [32] MOONEY M.A Theory of Large Elastic Deformation [J].Journal of Applied Physics,1940,1 1(9):582-592 . [33] BARENBLATT G I,JOSEPH D D.Collected Papers of R.S.Rivlin[M].New York:Springer,1997:23-69 . [34] MENDIS K K,STALNAKER R L,ADVANI S H.A Constitutive Relationship for Large Deformation Finite Element Modelling of Brain Tissue[J].Journal of Bio mechanical Engineering,1995,1 17(3):279-285 . [35] 胡敏.交通撞击过程中行人颅脑损伤有限元模型关键参数研究[D].南京:南京林业大学,2016. [36] 于波.高仿生度颅脑碰撞模型建立与验证[D].长春: 吉林大学,2017. [37] 陈勇.行人和自行车交通事故中头部动力学响应和损伤机理研究[D].长沙:湖南大学,2010. [38] NAHUM A M,SMITH R,WARD C C.Intracranial Pre ssure Dynamics During Head Impact[C]//Proceedings of the 21st Stapp Car Crash Conference.Warrendale: SAE International,1977:770922 . [39] GIORDANO C,CLOOTS R J H,VAN DOMMELEN J A W,et al.The Influence of Anisotropy on Brain Injury Prediction[J].Journal of Biomechanics,2014,47(5):1052- 1059.