LUBRICATION PREDICTIONS FOR TOTAL KNEE PROSTHESIS MADE OF HARD MATERIALS

Authors

  • J. DI PAOLO
  • M. E. BERLI

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52292/j.laar.2015.370

Keywords:

knee prosthesis, lubrication, ceramic to ceramic contact,, film thickness, finite element method

Abstract

The lubricated contact zone in a total knee prosthesis is modeled, where femoral and tibial components are supposed to be made of hard materials (high stiffness and hardness) and lubricated by a non Newtonian fluid (synovial liquid). To determine optimal relations among geometric parameters, load and film thickness, a generalized Reynolds equation was solved by means of finite element method. Although mix lubrication regime is predominant, it is shown that increasing conformity, it could be assure a full-film lubrication regime in most of the gait cycle. These results might be a reference to make more durable total knee prostheses.

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Published

2015-01-30

Issue

Vol. 45 No. 1 (2015): Latin American Applied Research

Section

Applied Mechanics

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