Synovial fluid filtration by articular cartilage with a worn-out surface zone in the human ankle joint during walking part I: a mathematical mixture model

摘要

A mixture model of synovial fluid filtration by articular cartilage with a wornout surface zone in the human ankle joint during walking is presented for steady rolling/sliding motion. Both cartilage and synovial fluid are modelled as biphasic mixtures. While Part I of the present paper brings deduction of the governing equations, numerical results for steady pure sliding are presented in Part II. The analysis provides support for the hypothesis that if the surface zone of articular cartilage is rubbed off, a continuous synovial fluid film between the articular surfaces is not maintained in the human synovial joints of the lower extremities during walking, and that boundary lubrication might be operative in this case.