Development CT-based three-dimensional complex skull model for Finite element analysis

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a three-dimensional (3D) complex skull model by using Finite element analysis (FEA) method from CT scans DICOM images of a real patient and improves the finite element model to perform a comprehensive simulation for future biomedical applications. FEA is a powerful tool to study the reproduction of a particular loading on anatomical structures with various parameters. Many studies used FEA as a solution for failure prediction with variable of unknown stresses. The effects of external impact conditions are demonstrated by stress analysis. The raw images collected from CT scan were rendered into 3D model. The surface model was repaired by Autodesk 3ds Max and converted into editable surface model for the ease of solid bodies conversion. The surface model was further converted into solid model by using Autodesk Inventor. The meshing technique used is tetrahedral shape function which consists of solid 10 nodes and 92 elements. The element size is set at finer value of less than 0.005 mm. The comparison of both CT scans generated 3D model and computed-based 3D model are to be done in the future study.