Effects of Gait Patterns on the Viscoelastic Squeeze-Film Lubrication of Hip Replacements

The present study investigated the influence of various gait patterns on the viscoelastic squeeze-film lubrication characteristics of UHMWPE-based artificial hip replacements. Different gait loads (slow walking, normal walking, slow running) measured by Bergmann et al. were adopted in the present lu...

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Main Authors: Xianjiu Lu, Manyu Liang, Qingen Meng, Zhongmin Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Lubricants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/3/131
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author Xianjiu Lu
Manyu Liang
Qingen Meng
Zhongmin Jin
author_facet Xianjiu Lu
Manyu Liang
Qingen Meng
Zhongmin Jin
author_sort Xianjiu Lu
collection DOAJ
description The present study investigated the influence of various gait patterns on the viscoelastic squeeze-film lubrication characteristics of UHMWPE-based artificial hip replacements. Different gait loads (slow walking, normal walking, slow running) measured by Bergmann et al. were adopted in the present lubrication simulation. A comprehensive squeeze-film lubrication model for UHMWPE hip replacement was developed and numerically solved to determine the spatial distributions of film thickness and pressure profiles. The results showed that physiological loads had a negligible impact on the minimum film thicknesses during the stand phases. However, they significantly enhanced the minimum film thicknesses in both the elastic (1.16–1.31 times) and viscoelastic models (1.43–2.85 times) during the swing phases when compared to constant loads. This improvement was notably more pronounced in the viscoelastic model than in the elastic model. The slow-running gait, characterized by its higher frequency, demonstrated a more pronounced enhancement in squeeze-film lubrication of UHMWPE artificial hip joints compared to both normal-walking and slow-walking gaits. Specifically, the minimum film thicknesses during slow running were found to be 1.15 to 1.35 times greater than those observed during normal walking and 1.33 to 1.66 times greater than those during slow walking, highlighting the superior lubrication performance in the slow running case.
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spelling doaj-art-06b5882164414da2ba54df4e9fd562522025-08-20T01:49:04ZengMDPI AGLubricants2075-44422025-03-0113313110.3390/lubricants13030131Effects of Gait Patterns on the Viscoelastic Squeeze-Film Lubrication of Hip ReplacementsXianjiu Lu0Manyu Liang1Qingen Meng2Zhongmin Jin3College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UKSchool of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UKThe present study investigated the influence of various gait patterns on the viscoelastic squeeze-film lubrication characteristics of UHMWPE-based artificial hip replacements. Different gait loads (slow walking, normal walking, slow running) measured by Bergmann et al. were adopted in the present lubrication simulation. A comprehensive squeeze-film lubrication model for UHMWPE hip replacement was developed and numerically solved to determine the spatial distributions of film thickness and pressure profiles. The results showed that physiological loads had a negligible impact on the minimum film thicknesses during the stand phases. However, they significantly enhanced the minimum film thicknesses in both the elastic (1.16–1.31 times) and viscoelastic models (1.43–2.85 times) during the swing phases when compared to constant loads. This improvement was notably more pronounced in the viscoelastic model than in the elastic model. The slow-running gait, characterized by its higher frequency, demonstrated a more pronounced enhancement in squeeze-film lubrication of UHMWPE artificial hip joints compared to both normal-walking and slow-walking gaits. Specifically, the minimum film thicknesses during slow running were found to be 1.15 to 1.35 times greater than those observed during normal walking and 1.33 to 1.66 times greater than those during slow walking, highlighting the superior lubrication performance in the slow running case.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/3/131squeeze-film lubricationviscoelasticityartificial hip replacementsphysiological loadinggait patterns
spellingShingle Xianjiu Lu
Manyu Liang
Qingen Meng
Zhongmin Jin
Effects of Gait Patterns on the Viscoelastic Squeeze-Film Lubrication of Hip Replacements
Lubricants
squeeze-film lubrication
viscoelasticity
artificial hip replacements
physiological loading
gait patterns
title Effects of Gait Patterns on the Viscoelastic Squeeze-Film Lubrication of Hip Replacements
title_full Effects of Gait Patterns on the Viscoelastic Squeeze-Film Lubrication of Hip Replacements
title_fullStr Effects of Gait Patterns on the Viscoelastic Squeeze-Film Lubrication of Hip Replacements
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Gait Patterns on the Viscoelastic Squeeze-Film Lubrication of Hip Replacements
title_short Effects of Gait Patterns on the Viscoelastic Squeeze-Film Lubrication of Hip Replacements
title_sort effects of gait patterns on the viscoelastic squeeze film lubrication of hip replacements
topic squeeze-film lubrication
viscoelasticity
artificial hip replacements
physiological loading
gait patterns
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/3/131
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AT qingenmeng effectsofgaitpatternsontheviscoelasticsqueezefilmlubricationofhipreplacements
AT zhongminjin effectsofgaitpatternsontheviscoelasticsqueezefilmlubricationofhipreplacements