title: Analysis of mixed lubrication mechanism in metal-on-metal hip joint replacements.
abstract: A simple mixed lubrication model has been developed to predict the asperity contact and wear for the metal-on-metal bearing couple for total hip joint replacements. It has been shown that the femoral head radius has a large effect on the predicted asperity contact and wear depending on the lubrication regime. An increase in the femoral head radius can lead to an increase in wear under a predominantly boundary lubrication regime, but this trend can be reversed under a mixed lubrication regime towards fluid film lubrication. These observations are consistent with the recent experimental findings from hip simulator studies by Smith and co-workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Medical Engineering, University of Bradford, UK.
authors.forename: Z M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D017276:Friction; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008153:Lubrication; D008422:Materials Testing; D008670:Metals; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013582:Synovial Fluid
chemical_list: D008670:Metals