Biphasic Representative Elemental Volumes for 3-D White Matter Elastography

Abstract

White matter (WM) characterization is challenging due to its anisotropic and inhomogeneous microstructure that necessitates multiscale and multi-modality measurements. Shear elastography is one such modality that requires the accurate interpretation of 3D shear strain measurements, which hinge on developing appropriate constitutive tissue models. Finite element methods enable the development of such models by simulating the shear response of representative elemental volumes (REV). We have developed triphasic (axon, myelin, glia), 2D REVs to simulate the influence of the intrinsic viscoelastic property and volume fraction of each phase. This work constitutes the extension of 2D- to 3D-REVs, focusing on the effect of the intrinsic material properties and their 3D representation on the viscoelastic response of the tissue. By lumping the axon and myelin phases, a flexible 3D REV generation and analysis routine is then developed to allow for shear homogenization in both the axial and transverse directions. The 2D and 3D models agree on stress distribution and total deformation when 2D cross-sectional snapshots are compared. We also conclude that the ratio of transverse to axial transverse modulus is larger than one when axon fibers are stiffer than the glial phase.