The Phan-Thien and Tanner Model Applied to the Lubrication of knee prosthesis

Abstract

This work aims to provide a contribution to determine a proper model for the study of fluid film lubrication for the reduction of knee prostheses failure due to polyethylene wear. The Phan-Thien and Tanner (PTT) rheological law and the elastic deformation of the articular surfaces were considered in this modeling. The governing equations were solved numerically for different geometries and different Weissenberg numbers. The lubrication approximation applied to the PTT rheological law leads to an expression for the apparent viscosity similar to the Cross model. The results attest the importance of considering the non-Newtonian behavior of the synovial fluid, the elastic deformation, and the geometrical features of the prostheses to obtain quantitative information.