Mechanics of Bio-tribology in Bionic Joints- Analytical Approach

Abstract

Bionic joints are extraordinary bearings and which are still unexplored. The bio-tribology deals with the study of lubrication methods, and mechanisms involved in natural joints. In the first part of the present work, the review of various lubrication methods is carried out. The anatomical description of knee joint lubrication is explored. The natural joints are found to be not governed by any of the single lubrication methods but all the lubrication methods are necessary to explain the lubrication in natural joints. In other words, one can say that the mixed lubrication method is the best suitable way to explore the bio-tribology of natural joints. The second part deals with the study of mechanics of the bio-tribology of the Knee joint. The Knee condyle’s spherical shape is used to develop the geometrical construction for analytical study. The soft cartilaginous tissue and menisci tissue are treated as an elastic material medium with elastic modulus E, whose surface is covered with synovial fluid film. The effect of applied force on film thickness is found to vary logarithmically. Anyway, the application of a higher magnitude of force will not affect the velocity of indentation. This study is useful to validate the numerical solutions of the bio-tribology study. This also helps in developing the surrogate models of bionic joints to analyse them with the least computational power and provides a platform to study the fluid-structure interactions.