Study of a spherical head model. Analytical and numerical solutions in fluid-structure interaction approach

This paper deals with the analytical and the numerical computation of elastoacoustic vibration modes. We determine in the present study the eigenfrequencies and the modal shapes of the system of brain, cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) and skull. Two models are presented in this work: an elastic-acoustic model assuming a rigid skull and an elastic-acoustic-elastic model assuming a deformable skull. The analytical results are compared with the numerical solution obtained using the software Comsol Multiphysics. It is shown that eigenfrequencies and more significantly the modal shapes are strongly influenced by the interaction between solid phases (brain and skull) and the cerebro-spinal fluid. Finally the influence of the CSF compressibility and thickness on the natural frequencies was investigated. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.