Abstract

Revision total hip arthroplasty (rTHA) is an expensive and surgically risky procedure that is necessary in the case of a failed primary total hip arthroplasty (pTHA). The cause of failure in artificial hip joints is often rooted in the tribological performance of the bearing surfaces such as increased wear and reduced lubrication. Surface texturing is a surface modification technique which has been studied for aerospace and automotive applications and has shown promise in the biomedical field of artificial human joints in the last two decades. Several studies have been done to assess the tribological performance of introducing surface micro-textures as a means of reducing friction and wear. However, not many studies are found in literature that focus on ceramic-on-polyethylene surfaces, specifically with the softer surface being textured. This thesis investigates the effects of surface texturing on the coefficient of friction and wear between a textured ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) plate and an alumina (Al2O3) ball. Surface textures with different combinations of dimple aspect ratio and texture densities are empirically studied in the boundary and/or mixed lubrication regime. Experiments are conducted via a reciprocating ball-on-flat friction tester. Microscopy and profilometry are done to understand the characterize the tribological behavior of the sliding surfaces. Additionally, a hydrodynamic lubrication model is implemented to examine the effects of the same surface textures on the maximum load-carrying capacity of the lubricant in the hydrodynamic lubrication regime.

Publication Date

5-31-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Mechanical Engineering (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Mechanical Engineering

College

Kate Gleason College of Engineering

Advisor

Patricia Iglesias Victoria

Advisor/Committee Member

Kathleen Lamkin-Kennard

Advisor/Committee Member

Rui Li

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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