Back to results

Virginia Tech

Biotribology: The Effect of Lubricant and Load on Articular Cartilage Wear and Friction

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This paper presents a biotribological study on cartilage wear and friction, using a system of cartilage-on-stainless steel. This study is a part of the ongoing biotribology research by Dr. Furey at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Two loads (65 N and 20 N) and three lubricants (saline reference, reference + hyaluronic acid, and bovine synovial fluid) were tested and evaluated using several analysis techniques. These techniques included wear analysis by hydroxyproline measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), histologic sectioning and staining, numerical analysis of friction and specimen displacement data, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. Biochemical wear analysis showed that, under high load, the saline reference generated the most wear, hyaluronic acid produced less wear, and bovine synovial fluid produced the least. Wear was sensitive to load with all three lubricants, but was not significantly affected by the lubricant under low load. SEM photographs and histologic sections showed evidence of plowing and surface delamination, as well as another wear mechanism that produced wear markings perpendicular to the direction of sliding. Opaque films remained on the polished stainless steel disks after saline and hyaluronic acid tests, but not after synovial fluid tests. FTIR analysis of these films, as well as fresh and worn cartilage, showed that the cartilage experienced chemical changes during sliding.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Mechanical Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Mechanical Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
1997

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Owellen, Michael C.
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Furey, Michael J.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Gregory, Eugene M.
  • Eiss, Norman S. Jr.
  • Veit, Hugo P.

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-62997-145654
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/36872

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Owellen, Michael C.. Biotribology: The Effect of Lubricant and Load on Articular Cartilage Wear and Friction. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/36872