Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication Modeling of Artificial Hip Joints Under Steady-State Conditions

A general steady-state elastohydrodynamic lubrication model was developed for artificial hip joints, with particular reference to the effect of the anatomical position of the cup and the three-dimensional physiological loading and motion experienced during walking. Appropriate spherical coordinates and mesh grids were employed to facilitate the numerical solution. A specific hip implant employing an ultrahigh molecular-weight polyethylene acetabular cup against a metallic femoral head was chosen to demonstrate the general applicability of the lubrication model and the effects of both the cup inclination angle and the combined flexion-extension and internal-external rotation on the lubrication were analyzed.