ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with a general description of brain injury mechanisms for blunt impact, inertia loading, and the less-studied mechanism of overpressurization. A comprehensive evaluation of biomechanical aspects of injuries suffered by individuals must include the cumulative effect of different force categories. Many components of blast-induced traumatic brain injury (TBI) are quite similar to what has been studied for decades, such as the effect of blunt impact and acceleration/deceleration. Factors that need to be considered in analyzing the mechanisms of brain injury include anatomical features, mechanical properties of brain tissue and applied motion to the skull. The internal forces resulting from a dynamic load cause brain injury via different mechanisms. These mechanisms of brain injury can be grouped into three categories: direct brain impact ongoing in the interior of the skull; cavitation; and brain deformation. The generation of blast injury models that define the causal mechanisms of TBI in sufficient detail needs to begin with the characterization of blast phenomenon.
