Abstract
This paper presents an experimental investigation of an artificial knee joint with tibial poro-elastic-hydrated cartilage and micro-pocket-covered femoral head. Material of the tibial cartilage is polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel (PVAH), produced by the cyclic freezing/thawing and annealing methods. Femoral head is considered as a circular plate made in stainless steel. Wear experiments are performed on a knee motion simulator, which provides an ISO/WD-14243 anterior-posterior tibial displacement pattern. Variation of the wear factor versus number of walking cycles is presented for PVAH layers with different water contents. Results obtained for a micro-pocket-covered femur are compared with those found in the reference case of a smooth femur.
