Contact Mechanics of Soft Layer Artificial Hip Joints: Part 2: Application to Joint Design

Abstract

In this paper, the general solutions previously obtained for the contact mechanics of a soft layer artificial hip joint have been applied to the design of such joints. In particular, simple power-law design formulae have been generated for the prediction of the contact radius and the maximum Tresca shear stress within the elastomeric layer, when the aspect ratio varied from 1 to 20 (which covered the entire range of the aspect ratio for soft layer artificial hip joints). The effects of the layer thickness, Young's modulus of the layer and the equivalent radius of the joint upon the contact area and the maximum Tresca shear stress have all been examined for physiological loading conditions which would be experienced by hip joint prostheses in the body. Furthermore, the shear strain field was calculated so that the level of strain expected for such joints under physiological loading conditions can be estimated. With these data, relevant fatigue tests can be devised to assess the long-term performance of any particular design of soft layer hip joint. Finally, the effect of the friction between articular surfaces upon the stress field within soft layers has been examined using a newly developed asymptotic analytical theory. It was shown that, for a low coefficient of friction, the maximum Tresca shear stress occurred at layer-substrate bonding interface. With an increase in the coefficient of friction, however, the maximum Tresca shear stress increased its magnitude and moved towards the centre of the contact area along the articular surface.