Finite Element Analysis of the Effects of Different Shapes of Adult Cranial Sutures on Their Mechanical Behavior
Cranial sutures play critical roles in load distribution and neuroprotection, with their biomechanical performance intimately linked to morphological complexity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different morphologies of cranial sutures on their biomechanical behavior. Base...
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2025-03-01
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| author | Han Yang Shiguo Yuan Yuan Yan Li Zhou Chao Zheng Yikai Li Junhua Li |
| author_facet | Han Yang Shiguo Yuan Yuan Yan Li Zhou Chao Zheng Yikai Li Junhua Li |
| author_sort | Han Yang |
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| description | Cranial sutures play critical roles in load distribution and neuroprotection, with their biomechanical performance intimately linked to morphological complexity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different morphologies of cranial sutures on their biomechanical behavior. Based on the different morphologies of the cranial sutures, six groups of finite element models (closed, straight, sine wave, tight sinusoidal wave, layered sinusoidal wave, and layered sinusoidal wave + sutural bone) of the bone–suture–bone composite structures that ranged from simple to complex were constructed. Each model was subjected to 50 kPa impact and 98 N bilateral tensile loads to evaluate von Mises stress and total deformation variations across all groups under combined loading conditions. Key findings reveal that morphological complexity directly governs stress dynamics and mechanical adaptation; layered sinusoidal configurations delayed peak stress by 19–36% and generated elevated von Mises stresses compared to closed sutures, with stress concentrations correlating with interfacial roughness. Under impact, sutures exhibited localized energy dissipation (<0.2 μm deformation), while tensile loading induced uniform displacements (≤11 μm) across all morphologies (<i>p</i> > 0.05), underscoring their dual roles in localized energy absorption and global strain redistribution. Craniosacral therapy relevant forces produced sub-micron deformations far below pathological thresholds (≥1 mm), which implies the biomechanical safety of recommended therapeutic force. Staggered suture–bone in open sutures (31.93% closure rate) enhances shear resistance, whereas closed sutures prioritize rigidity. The findings provide mechanistic explanations for suture pathological vulnerability and clinical intervention limitations, offering a quantitative foundation for future research on cranial biomechanics and therapeutic innovation. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-a249dd1a48b74bbe9ecc7e5b8d0467b82025-08-20T03:43:30ZengMDPI AGBioengineering2306-53542025-03-0112331810.3390/bioengineering12030318Finite Element Analysis of the Effects of Different Shapes of Adult Cranial Sutures on Their Mechanical BehaviorHan Yang0Shiguo Yuan1Yuan Yan2Li Zhou3Chao Zheng4Yikai Li5Junhua Li6School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Hainan Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Haikou 570311, ChinaThe Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510700, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Hainan Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Haikou 570311, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Hainan Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Haikou 570311, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, ChinaThe Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510130, ChinaCranial sutures play critical roles in load distribution and neuroprotection, with their biomechanical performance intimately linked to morphological complexity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different morphologies of cranial sutures on their biomechanical behavior. Based on the different morphologies of the cranial sutures, six groups of finite element models (closed, straight, sine wave, tight sinusoidal wave, layered sinusoidal wave, and layered sinusoidal wave + sutural bone) of the bone–suture–bone composite structures that ranged from simple to complex were constructed. Each model was subjected to 50 kPa impact and 98 N bilateral tensile loads to evaluate von Mises stress and total deformation variations across all groups under combined loading conditions. Key findings reveal that morphological complexity directly governs stress dynamics and mechanical adaptation; layered sinusoidal configurations delayed peak stress by 19–36% and generated elevated von Mises stresses compared to closed sutures, with stress concentrations correlating with interfacial roughness. Under impact, sutures exhibited localized energy dissipation (<0.2 μm deformation), while tensile loading induced uniform displacements (≤11 μm) across all morphologies (<i>p</i> > 0.05), underscoring their dual roles in localized energy absorption and global strain redistribution. Craniosacral therapy relevant forces produced sub-micron deformations far below pathological thresholds (≥1 mm), which implies the biomechanical safety of recommended therapeutic force. Staggered suture–bone in open sutures (31.93% closure rate) enhances shear resistance, whereas closed sutures prioritize rigidity. The findings provide mechanistic explanations for suture pathological vulnerability and clinical intervention limitations, offering a quantitative foundation for future research on cranial biomechanics and therapeutic innovation.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/3/318finite element methodcranial suturemechanical behaviorimpact and tensile loadscraniosacral therapy |
| spellingShingle | Han Yang Shiguo Yuan Yuan Yan Li Zhou Chao Zheng Yikai Li Junhua Li Finite Element Analysis of the Effects of Different Shapes of Adult Cranial Sutures on Their Mechanical Behavior Bioengineering finite element method cranial suture mechanical behavior impact and tensile loads craniosacral therapy |
| title | Finite Element Analysis of the Effects of Different Shapes of Adult Cranial Sutures on Their Mechanical Behavior |
| title_full | Finite Element Analysis of the Effects of Different Shapes of Adult Cranial Sutures on Their Mechanical Behavior |
| title_fullStr | Finite Element Analysis of the Effects of Different Shapes of Adult Cranial Sutures on Their Mechanical Behavior |
| title_full_unstemmed | Finite Element Analysis of the Effects of Different Shapes of Adult Cranial Sutures on Their Mechanical Behavior |
| title_short | Finite Element Analysis of the Effects of Different Shapes of Adult Cranial Sutures on Their Mechanical Behavior |
| title_sort | finite element analysis of the effects of different shapes of adult cranial sutures on their mechanical behavior |
| topic | finite element method cranial suture mechanical behavior impact and tensile loads craniosacral therapy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/3/318 |
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