Computational simulation analysis for torus radius of edge contact in hip prostheses

Stripe wear occurs when the components of hip prostheses move a sufficient distance laterally to contact the edge of the acetabular cup, causing abnormally high contact stresses. In this research, edge loading contact of prosthetic hip is analyzed in the most commonly used material pairs. The contact dimensions and maximal contact pressure are investigated in mutative normal edge loading with 3 different inclination angles (15°, 20°, 25°) and in alterable edge torus radius with edge loading of 2500 N and inclination of 20°. A computational case was conducted for a 14 mm radius alumina ceramic bearing with a radial clearance of 0.1 mm using a normal edge loading ranged from 0 N to 3000 N. Additionally, the Hertzian theory successfully captures principal curvature trends of the edge torus on the influence of maximal contact pressure and obtains the appropriate edge radius range for lower maximal contact pressure. This work elucidates the methods of applying classical contact theory to design the edge radius of hip bearings to better resist severe edge loading contact stresses and reduce the stripe wear.