Authors: Chaokai Zhang, Songbai Ji
Abstract
This study investigates the deformation and failure mechanisms of axonal components under rapid tension and compression using a recently developed microscale male axonal injury model. A white matter fiber strain profile from a real-world head impact simulation was scaled to apply tension and compression of up to 40% peak strain magnitude at a 5% increment as input. Axonal injury model simulations were successful without any numerical issue for all inputs with peak magnitude up to 35% for both tension and compression. Tension led to significant microtubule strain. In contrast, compression led to microtubule bending and buckling with minimal axial strain and no tau protein failure but higher neurofilament failure and axolemma strain due to microtubule undulation and contact. The distinct responses in tension and compression provide insights into the micromechanics of traumatic axonal injury and set the stage for further investigations using sex-specific axonal injury models in the future.
Type: Short Communication