Effect of Wear of Bearing Surfaces on Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication of Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants

2005 ◽  
Vol 219 (5) ◽  
pp. 319-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Liu ◽  
Z M Jin ◽  
F Hirt ◽  
C Rieker ◽  
P Roberts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Linear Wear ◽  
Wear Depth ◽  
Hip Implants ◽  
Bearing Surface ◽  
Lubricant Film Thickness ◽  
Hip Simulator ◽  
Metal On Metal

The effect of geometry change of the bearing surfaces owing to wear on the elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) of metal-on-metal (MOM) hip bearings has been investigated theoretically in the present study. A particular MOM Metasul™ bearing (Zimmer GmbH) was considered, and was tested in a hip simulator using diluted bovine serum. The geometry of the worn bearing surface was measured using a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and was modelled theoretically on the assumption of spherical geometries determined from the maximum linear wear depth and the angle of the worn region. Both the CMM measurement and the theoretical calculation were directly incorporated into the elastohydrodynamic lubrication analysis. It was found that the geometry of the original machined bearing surfaces, particularly of the femoral head with its out-of-roundness, could lead to a large reduction in the predicted lubricant film thickness and an increase in pressure. However, these non-spherical deviations can be expected to be smoothed out quickly during the initial running-in period. For a given worn bearing surface, the predicted lubricant film thickness and pressure distribution, based on CMM measurement, were found to be in good overall agreement with those obtained with the theoretical model based on the maximum linear wear depth and the angle of the worn region. The gradual increase in linear wear during the running-in period resulted in an improvement in the conformity and consequently an increase in the predicted lubricant film thickness and a decrease in the pressure. For the Metasul™ bearing tested in an AMTI hip simulator, a maximum total linear wear depth of approximately 13 μm was measured after 1 million cycles and remained unchanged up to 5 million cycles. This resulted in a threefold increase in the predicted average lubricant film thickness. Consequently, it was possible for the Metasul™ bearing to achieve a fluid film lubrication regime during this period, and this was consistent with the minimal wear observed between 1 and 5 million cycles. However, under adverse in vivo conditions associated with start-up and stopping and depleted lubrication, wear of the bearing surfaces can still occur. An increase in the wear depth beyond a certain limit was shown to lead to the constriction of the lubricant film around the edge of the contact conjunction and consequently to a decrease in the lubricant film thickness. Continuous cycles of a running-in wear period followed by a steady state wear period may be inevitable in MOM hip implants. This highlights the importance of minimizing the wear in these devices during the initial running-in period, particularly from design and manufacturing points of view.

A Three-Dimensional Model of Line-Contact Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication for Heterogeneous Materials with Inclusions

2016 ◽  
Vol 08 (02) ◽  
pp. 1650014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun Zhou ◽  
Qingbing Dong
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Half Space ◽  
Surface Deformation ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Line Contact ◽  
Lubricant Film Thickness ◽  
Equivalent Inclusion Method ◽  
Surface Contact

This paper develops a three-dimensional (3D) model for a heterogeneous half-space with inclusions distributed periodically beneath its surface subject to elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) line-contact applied by a cylindrical loading body. The model takes into account the interactions between the loading body, the fluid lubricant and the heterogeneous half-space. In the absence of subsurface inclusions, the surface contact pressure distribution, the half-space surface deformation and the lubricant film thickness profile are obtained through solving a unified Reynolds equation system. The inclusions are homogenized according to Eshelby’s equivalent inclusion method (EIM) with unknown eigenstrains to be determined. The disturbed half-space surface deformations induced by the subsurface inclusions or eigenstrains are iteratively introduced into the lubricant film thickness until the surface deformation finally converges. Both time-independent smooth surface contact and time-dependent rough surface contact are considered for the lubricated contact problem.

scholarly journals Grease film thickness measurement in rolling bearing contacts

2020 ◽  
pp. 135065012096127
Author(s):  
Xingnan Zhang ◽  
Romeo Glovnea
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Rolling Bearing ◽  
Thickness Measurement ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Rolling Element Bearings ◽  
Lubricant Film Thickness ◽  
Rolling Bearings ◽  
Rolling Element ◽  
Film Thickness Measurement

Rolling bearings are the second most used machine components. They work in what it is called elastohydrodynamic lubrication regime. The geometry of rolling element bearings makes the direct measurement of the lubricant film thickness a challenging task. Optical interferometry is widely used in laboratory conditions for studying elastohydrodynamic lubrication however it cannot be used directly in rolling element bearings thus the only suitable methods are electrical techniques. Of these, film thickness measurement based on electrical capacitance of the contacts has been used in the past by a number of authors. One of the limitations of the capacitance method, when used in rolling bearings, is that it cannot distinguish between the contacts of every rolling element and raceway on one hand and on the other between the inner and outer ring contacts. In the present study the authors used an original test rig which can measure the film thickness for only one ball and separately for the inner and outer rings of a radial ball bearing. This paper thus shows for the first-time results of the lubricant film thickness, at the inner and outer raceways, in grease lubricated rolling bearings.

scholarly journals The Effect of Texture Floor Profile on the Lubricant Film Thickness in a Textured Hard-On-Soft Bearing With Relevance to Prosthetic Hip Implants

2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Quentin Allen ◽  
Bart Raeymaekers
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Polyethylene Wear ◽  
Texture Feature ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Contact Friction ◽  
Hip Implants ◽  
Lubricant Film Thickness ◽  
Texture Parameters

Abstract Polyethylene wear debris limits the longevity of prosthetic hip implants. We design a pattern of axisymmetric texture features to increase hydrodynamic pressure and lubricant film thickness and, thus, reduce solid-on-solid contact, friction, and wear in hard-on-soft prosthetic hip implant bearings. Specifically, we study the effect of the texture floor profile on the lubricant film thickness using a soft elastohydrodynamic lubrication model. We compute the optimum texture parameters that maximize the lubricant film thickness for different texture floor profiles, as a function of bearing operating conditions. Flat texture floor profiles create thicker lubricant films than sloped or curved texture floor profiles for their respective optimum texture design parameters. We find that the texture feature volume is the most important parameter in terms of maximizing the lubricant film thickness, because a linear relationship exists between the texture feature volume with optimum texture parameters and the corresponding optimum lubricant film thickness, independent of the texture floor profile.

scholarly journals Maximizing the Lubricant Film Thickness Between a Rigid Microtextured and a Smooth Deformable Surface in Relative Motion, Using a Soft Elasto-Hydrodynamic Lubrication Model

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Quentin Allen ◽  
Bart Raeymaekers
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Hydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Hydrodynamic Pressure ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Lubricant Film Thickness ◽  
Texture Density ◽  
Film Lubrication

Abstract We design a pattern of microtexture features to increase hydrodynamic pressure and lubricant film thickness in a hard-on-soft bearing. We use a soft elastohydrodynamic lubrication model to evaluate the effect of microtexture design parameters and bearing operating conditions on the resulting lubricant film thickness and find that the maximum lubricant film thickness occurs with a texture density between 10% and 40% and texture aspect ratio between 1% and 14%, depending on the bearing load and operating conditions. We show that these results are similar to those of hydrodynamic textured bearing problems because the lubricant film thickness is almost independent of the stiffness of the bearing surfaces in full-film lubrication.

Kinematics of the MATCO™ hip simulator and issues related to wear testing of metal-metal implants

1997 ◽  
Vol 211 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
J B Medley ◽  
J J Krygier ◽  
J D Bobyn ◽  
F W Chan ◽  
A Lippincott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Contact Zone ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Hertzian Contact ◽  
Wear Testing ◽  
Circular Path ◽  
Hip Implants ◽  
Hip Simulator ◽  
Metal Metal

Metal-metal hip implants have been used clinically in Europe to reduce the risk of wear particle induced osteolysis. Joint simulator devices could provide useful information for design improvement of the modern generation of metal-metal hip implants. Early wear results for metal-metal hip specimens were obtained using a MATCO™ hip simulator. A detailed kinematic analysis was developed for the MATCO™ simulator and applied to two of the wear experiments to predict the starting surface motion, contact zone and lubricant film thickness. It was shown that points on cup surfaces were not subjected to a reciprocating interaction with the head during wear at the beginning of testing but as wear proceeded, it was suggested that, in some cases, reciprocating interaction did occur on the cup surface. Comparison between simulator and in vivo kinematics suggested a more realistic representation for cup than for head wear. In the simulator, the Hertzian contact zone moved in a circular path over the cup surface and changed in size in correspondence with the applied load. Elastohydrodynamic lubrication was considered to be possible in the simulator, with estimated fluid film thickness as great as 0.1 μm. However, such thick films were not likely to have occurred at the start of the two wear tests which were examined in detail, although some mixed film lubrication might have accounted for the relatively low wear of one of the specimens. The inclusion of kinematic details, contact mechanics and elastohydrodynamic lubrication analysis in simulator testing protocols and in design of metal-metal hip implants was recommended.

Interaction of Asperities on Opposing Surfaces in Thin Film, Mixed Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian W. Choo ◽  
Andrew V. Olver ◽  
Hugh A. Spikes ◽  
Marie-Laure Dumont ◽  
Eustathios Ioannides
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Film Thickness ◽  
Experimental Method ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
New Technique ◽  
Lubricant Film Thickness ◽  
Transverse Ridge ◽  
Film Distribution ◽  
Direct Measurements

A novel experimental method has been developed to investigate how model asperities, on opposing surfaces in an elastohydrodynamic (EHD) contact, interact to influence the lubricant film distribution. This technique allows direct measurements of lubricant film thickness during asperity-asperity collision. A surface having a single transverse ridge asperity was rubbed against a second surface having three different roughness features, a transverse ridge, multiple transverse ridges, and an array of hemispherical bumps to study the resultant micro-EHD films. This work reveals how the film thickness is greatly reduced when the peaks of opposing asperities coincide, and how asperities can combine to cause a larger volume of lubricant to be entrapped at their leading edges. The new technique described shows considerable promise for the study of mixed lubrication.

Pressure Calculation From Experimentally Evaluated Lubricant Thickness Within EHL Contacts

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Vrbka ◽  
M. Vaverka ◽  
R. Poliscuk ◽  
I. Krupka ◽  
M. Hartl
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Contact Pressure ◽  
Point Contact ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Solution Technique ◽  
Lubricant Film Thickness ◽  
Smooth Contact ◽  
Friction Surfaces

This paper is concerned with elastohydrodynamic lubrication, especially determination of lubricant film thickness and contact pressure within a point contact of friction surfaces of machine parts. A new solution technique for numerical determination of contact pressure is introduced. Direct measurement of contact pressure is very difficult. Hence, input data of lubricant film thickness obtained from the experiment based on colorimetric interferometry are used for calculation of pressure using the inverse elasticity theory. The algorithm is enhanced by convolution in order to increase calculation speed. The approach gives credible results on smooth contact and it is currently extended to enable the study of contact of friction surfaces with dents.

Film formation in EHL contacts with oil-impregnated sintered materials

2018 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 612-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milan Omasta ◽  
Martin Ebner ◽  
Petr Šperka ◽  
Thomas Lohner ◽  
Ivan Krupka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Sintered Material ◽  
Film Formation ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Lubricant Film Thickness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Film Forming ◽  
Highly Loaded

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate lubricant film-forming capability of oil-impregnated sintered material in highly loaded non-conformal contacts. This self-lubrication mechanism is well described in lightly loaded conformal contacts such as journal bearings; however, only a little has been published about the application to highly loaded contacts under elastohydrodynamic lubrication regime (EHL).Design/methodology/approachThin film colorimetric interferometry is used to describe the effect of different operating conditions on lubricant film formation in line contacts.FindingsUnder fully flooded conditions, the effect of porous structure can be mainly traced back to the different elastic properties. When the contact is lubricated only by oil bleeding from the oil-impregnated sintered material, starvation is likely to occur. It is indicated that lubricant film thickness is mainly governed by oil bleeding capacity. The relationship between oil starvation parameters corresponds well with classic starved EHL theory.Practical implicationsTo show practical, relevant limitations of the considered self-lubrication system, time tests were conducted. The findings indicate that EHL contact with oil-impregnated sintered material may provide about 40 per cent of fully flooded film thickness.Originality/valueFor the first time, the paper presents results on the EHL film-forming capability of oil-impregnated sintered material by measuring the lubricant film thickness directly. The present paper identifies the phenomena involved, which is necessary for the understanding of the behavior of this complex tribological system.

Plasto-Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication (PEHL) in Point Contacts

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning Ren ◽  
Dong Zhu ◽  
W. W. Chen ◽  
Q. Jane Wang
Keyword(s):  
Plastic Deformation ◽  
Film Thickness ◽  
Surface Pressure ◽  
Work Hardening ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
External Loading ◽  
Point Contacts ◽  
Lubricant Film Thickness ◽  
Asperity Contacts

Elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) is an important branch of the lubrication theory, describing lubrication mechanisms in nonconformal contacts widely found in many mechanical components such as various gears, rolling bearings, cams and followers, metal-rolling tools, traction drives, and continuous variable transmissions. These components often transmit substantial power under heavy loading conditions. Also, the roughness of machined surfaces is usually of the same order of magnitude as, or greater than, the estimated average EHL film thickness. Consequently, most components operate in mixed lubrication regime with significant asperity contacts. Due to very high pressure concentrated in small areas, resulted from either heavy external loading or severe asperity contacts, or often a combination of both, subsurface stresses may exceed the material yield limit, causing considerable plastic deformation, which may not only permanently change the surface profiles and contact geometry but also alter material properties through work hardening as well. In the present study, a three-dimensional plasto-elastohydrodynamic lubrication (PEHL) model has been developed by taking into account plastic deformation and material work-hardening. The effects of surface/subsurface plastic deformation on lubricant film thickness, surface pressure distribution, and subsurface stress field have been investigated. This paper briefly describes the newly developed PEHL model and presents preliminary results and observed basic behavior of the PEHL in smooth-surface point contacts, in comparison with those from corresponding EHL solutions under the same conditions. The results indicate that plastic deformation may greatly affect contact and lubrication characteristics, resulting in significant reductions in lubricant film thickness, peak surface pressure and maximum subsurface stresses.

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