Abstract
The human knee implant is computationally modelled in the mixed lubrication regime to investigate the tribological performance of the implant. This model includes the complex geometry of the implant components, unlike elliptical contact models that approximate this geometry. Film thickness and pressure results are presented for an ISO gait cycle to determine the lubrication regime present within the implant during its operation. It was found that it was possible for the lubrication regime to span between elastohydrodynamic, mixed and boundary lubrication depending on the operating conditions of the implant. It was observed that the tribological conditions present in one condyle were not necessarily representative of the other. Multiple points of contact were found within the same condyle, which cannot be computed by the elliptical contact solvers. This model can be used to balance forces in all directions, instead of only the normal loads, as often done in elliptical contact models. This work is an initial step towards understanding the role of the complex geometry in the tribological characteristics of the human knee implant when operating in physiological conditions.
Highlights
This study describes the work and interactions the authors had with Prof Duncan Dowson from around 2006 until the end of 2019
The results for the calculated film thickness, pressure and loading are presented in Figure 8 for a viscosity of 0.1 Pas, where the standard deviation of the asperity heights and Finite element mesh 1.5 mm
25% of the gait cycle, after which it shifts to the lateral condyle
Summary
This study describes the work and interactions the authors had with Prof Duncan Dowson from around 2006 until the end of 2019. I (Rob Hewson) first met Duncan as I was coming to the end of my PhD at Leeds. I am not entirely sure what we talked about, but I can remember being really nervous at meeting the great Prof Dowson. The number of joint replacement surgeries are increasing rapidly. There are more than 0.1 million total knee replacements surgeries performed per year in the United Kingdom [1]. A total of 3.48 million patients per year in the United States alone are expected to undergo knee replacement surgeries by 2030, with hip replacement surgeries expected for 0.57 million patients.
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