The objective of this work has been to study the origin of surface failures in UHMWPE tibial bearings of total knee replacements. Earlier examination of hundreds of retrieved prostheses, along with analysis of the properties of UHMWPE material from retrieved bearings, had shown that a large number of the bearings suffered from subsurface oxidation. This oxidation was related to the gamma irradiation used to sterilize the tibial bearings. Mechanical properties of the polymer were significantly deteriorated in the oxidized region, with the most severe reduction of strength and ductility occurring about 1 mm beneath the contact surface. In this work the contact stress distribution in the bearings was analyzed, and tribotesting of the bearing materials was carried out under simulated service conditions. Fatigue cracks and delamination developed in bearings tested in a knee simulator and in rolling/sliding test specimens, and the damage was similar to that found in retrieved tibial bearings. The fatigue cracks invariably initiated in the embrittled oxidized layer, and the depth of that layer determined the depth at which the cracks began. The stress analysis showed that the maximum shear stress and von Mises equivalent stress reached high levels in the subsurface oxidized zone where the delamination and contact fatigue failures initiated. [S0742-4787(00)04401-5]
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
January 2000
Technical Papers
Contact Fatigue Failure of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Bearing Components of Knee Prostheses
F. E. Kennedy,
F. E. Kennedy
Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755
Search for other works by this author on:
J. H. Currier,
J. H. Currier
Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755
Search for other works by this author on:
S. Plumet,
S. Plumet
Labo. de Me´canique des Contacts, INSA de Lyon, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
Search for other works by this author on:
J. L. Duda,
J. L. Duda
Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755
Search for other works by this author on:
D. P. Gestwick,
D. P. Gestwick
Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755
Search for other works by this author on:
J. P. Collier,
J. P. Collier
Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755
Search for other works by this author on:
B. H. Currier,
B. H. Currier
Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755
Search for other works by this author on:
M-C. Dubourg
M-C. Dubourg
Labo. de Me´canique des Contacts, INSA de Lyon, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
Search for other works by this author on:
F. E. Kennedy
Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755
J. H. Currier
Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755
S. Plumet
Labo. de Me´canique des Contacts, INSA de Lyon, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
J. L. Duda
Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755
D. P. Gestwick
Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755
J. P. Collier
Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755
B. H. Currier
Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755
M-C. Dubourg
Labo. de Me´canique des Contacts, INSA de Lyon, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
Contributed by the Tribology Division of THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS and presented at the STLE/ASME Tribology Conference, Orlando, FL, October 10–13, 1999. Manuscript received by the Tribology Division March 1, 1999; revised manuscript received June 30, 1999. Paper No. 99-Trib-28. Associate Technical Editor: T. C. Ovaert.
J. Tribol. Jan 2000, 122(1): 332-339 (8 pages)
Published Online: June 30, 1999
Article history
Received:
March 1, 1999
Revised:
June 30, 1999
Citation
Kennedy , F. E., Currier , J. H., Plumet , S., Duda , J. L., Gestwick , D. P., Collier , J. P., Currier , B. H., and Dubourg , M. (June 30, 1999). "Contact Fatigue Failure of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Bearing Components of Knee Prostheses ." ASME. J. Tribol. January 2000; 122(1): 332–339. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.555364
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Static Characteristics of Hybrid Water-Lubricated Herringbone Groove Journal Bearing
J. Tribol (April 2025)
Related Articles
A Multi-Station Rolling/Sliding Tribotester for Knee Bearing Materials
J. Tribol (April,2004)
Wear Testing of UHMWPE Tibial Components: Influence of Oxidation
J. Tribol (January,2000)
In Vitro Fatigue Failure of Cemented Acetabular Replacements: A Hip Simulator Study
J Biomech Eng (April,2008)
Laboratory Evaluation of Total Knee Replacements (TKRs) to Restore Normal Function
J. Med. Devices (June,2010)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
E110opt Fuel Cladding Corrosion under PWR Conditions
Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 20th International Symposium
Clinical issues and experience
Mechanical Blood Trauma in Circulatory-Assist Devices
A Model for Predicting the Effect of Environmental Degradation on Damage Evolution of Metal-Matrix Composites
Applications of Continuum Damage Mechanics to Fatigue and Fracture