Geometric element analysis of fretting in a model of a modular femoral component of a hip implant

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lewis, Gladius

Affiliations: Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152‐3180, USA E‐mail: [email protected]

Abstract: The study utilized the geometric element analysis method to investigate the effect of three variables (head diameter, d; head material; and neck material) on the y‐direction displacement, due to fretting (Δ), in a model of the head‐neck connection in a modular version of the femoral component of a hip implant, subjected to a resultant hip joint force only. It was found that while d and neck material exerted a strong effect on Δ, the head material had practically no such effect. The implications of this finding for design and materials selection issues for this connection are discussed.

Keywords: Hip implant, fretting, geometric element modeling and analysis

Journal: Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 43-51, 2004