Numerical modeling of the brain poromechanics by high-order discontinuous Galerkin methods

We introduce and analyze a discontinuous Galerkin method for the numerical modeling of the equations of Multiple-Network Poroelastic Theory (MPET) in the dynamic formulation. The MPET model can comprehensively describe functional changes in the brain considering multiple scales of fluids. Concerning the spatial discretization, we employ a high-order discontinuous Galerkin method on polygonal and polyhedral grids and we derive stability and a priori error estimates. The temporal discretization is based on a coupling between a Newmark β-method for the momentum equation and a θ-method for the pressure equations. After the presentation of some verification numerical tests, we perform a convergence analysis using an agglomerated mesh of a geometry of a brain slice. Finally, we present a simulation in a three-dimensional patient-specific brain reconstructed from magnetic resonance images. The model presented in this paper can be regarded as a preliminary attempt to model the perfusion in the brain.