Modeling of Bionically Inspired Antifriction and Connective Layers in a Joint Prosthesis.

The paper analyzes the stress-strain state of antifriction and connective layers in a joint prosthesis which imitate their biological analogues: articular cartilage and connective tissue between joints and bones. A three-dimensional elasticity problem is solved assuming that these functional layers feature macroscopic homogeneity and transverse isotropy and that their thickness is small compared to the characteristic size of the zone exposed to surface loads. A general solution for arbitrary boundary conditions is derived as a power series in a small parameter which is equal to the ratio of layer thickness to contact zone radius. The solution provides more accurate estimates of the stress-strain state parameters than the Winkler and Pasternak elastic foundation models. A generalization of micromechanical models is presented for describing the deformation of gradient surface layers of a polymer joint prosthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]