Modelling an orthopaedic knee prosthesis as a layered elastic system part 1: Experimental and theoretical analyses

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to produce a simplified model of the plastic tibial plateau of a typical unicondylar knee prosthesis that would allow the parametric study of contact stresses experienced by the plastic component during relatively severe loading conditions. This involved the design, production and testing of a three-dimensional axisymmetric embedded strain gauge model of the tibial plateau and the application of a suitable theoretical analysis. The principal feature of the strain gauge model was the possibility of varying the thickness during the experimental procedure while keeping the maximum number of embedded gauges active. The Hertzian contact theory was used as a basis for the prediction of integration errors associated with placing strain gauges in locations subject to large strain gradients. A theoretical analysis that took the layered nature of the contact model into account was carried out which provided full field data for comparison with Hertzian and experimental results. Good agreement was obtained between theoretical and experimental values along the model axis, while at off-axis locations theoretical results based on the layered analysis compared reasonably with embedded strain gauge data. Very slight discrepancies between the experimental and idealized boundary conditions present in the initial stages of testing resulted in significant differences between embedded strain gauge and theoretical data.