Lubrication modeling and wear calculation in artificial hip joint during the gait

In the framework of Total Hip Replacement (THR), the aim of this paper was to propose a novel 3D contact-lubrication model for the in-silico prosthetic wear calculation during the gait. The approach is based on the Reynolds equation and in-vivo loads were selected for the simulations. The hip relative angular velocities were calculated by a commercial musculoskeletal software. In the considered conditions, by using the Archard wear theory, the model allows the determination of the unsteady fluid film pressure and the volumetric wear rate prediction. With reference to a Ceramic on Polyethylene hip prosthesis, the volumetric wear rate was calculated showing a good agreement with the values obtained by other Authors as a result of FEM approaches or in-vitro tests.