The Effect of Cerebrospinal Fluid on the Mechanical Response of the Brain under Space Launch–Induced Hypergravity

Hypergravity during space launch generates transient mechanical loads that may influence brain tissue integrity, highlighting the need for validated brain phantoms for preflight assessment. In this study, agar and gelatin hydrogels were evaluated as candidate brain-mimicking materials under controlled hypergravity (۰–۸ g) using a custom-built centrifuge system. Markers were mounted on the surface of the samples, and high-speed imaging was employed to quantify displacement fields during rotational motion. To assess the biomechanical contribution of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), hydrogels were tested both with and without CSF simulant. Comparative analysis of marker kinematics revealed that the presence of CSF altered displacement patterns and reduced maximum deformation values, indicating a measurable fluid–structure interaction effect under hypergravity loading. These results provide experimental insight into the mechanical role of CSF and support the development of biomimetic phantoms for simulating launch-induced loading conditions.

کلیدواژه ها:

Hypergravity ، Brain Phantom ، Cerebrospinal Fluid ، Hydrogel ، Space Biomechanics