Recent developments in the analysis of elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) of solids covered by soft layers, are applied to the big load-bearing human joints. It is concluded that the chances of generating a full film by conventional rolling/sliding EHL are small; but for loads of short duration the squeeze film mechanism looks very promising.
This address, delivered at an Ordinary Meeting of the Institution, in London, on 2 November 1977 is reprinted from Proc. Instn mech. Engrs, 191, 217, (1977).
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