Surface roughness effects on squeeze film poroelastic bearings

The combined study of effects of surface roughness and poroelasticity on the squeeze film behaviour of poroelastic bearings in general and that of synovial joints in particular is presented. The modified form of Reynolds equation which incorporates the randomized roughness structure as well as elastic nature of articular cartilage is derived. Christensen stochastic theory describing roughness structure of cartilage surfaces is used by assuming the roughness asperity heights to be small compared to the film thickness. Finite-difference-based multigrid method is used for the solution of Reynolds equation. The method has greatest advantage of minimizing the errors using correction schemes in obtaining accurate solution as grid size tends to zero. The influence of roughness and elasticity on bearing characteristics are discussed in some detail.