Mechanical analysis of biological bearings

轴承几乎是每一个能够运动的机械系统的一部分。它们是为我们的工业社会提供动力的工业不可或缺的一部分，也是我们人口健康的核心。因此，轴承技术的进步，甚至是渐进式的进步，都有可能产生重大的技术、财务和人类健康回报。几千年来，机械轴承进步的目标没有明显改变，包括减少摩擦，延长寿命和缩小尺寸。在所有这些领域的异常高水平的表现可以很容易地在骨骼系统的生物轴承中找到。拟议研究计划的全球目标是通过更好地了解生物轴承的材料特性、设计和功能来进一步发展轴承技术。轴承功能与5个基本参数有关，即材料特性，轴承表面几何形状，运动，载荷和润滑/营养。最佳轴承性能只能在适当的操作参数范围内实现。健康的生物轴承在这个操作参数范围内起作用。在这项研究中使用的科学方法认识到，通过对其操作参数进行全面的机械调查，应该可以对健康的生物承载功能进行重要的了解。使用我们实验室开发的技术和设备，我们将调查和量化生物轴承操作参数，并开发进一步研究其特性和功能所需的微观和宏观模型。该研究将利用一些最先进的测试策略，光学扫描技术和建模和分析程序目前可用。

Bearings are a part of virtually every mechanical system that is capable of motion.  They are integral to the industry that powers our industrial society and central to the health of our population.  As such, advancements in bearing technology, even incremental advancements have the potential of generating significant technological, financial and human health returns.  The targets for mechanical bearing advancement have not appreciably changed in thousands of years, and include reduced friction, longer life and reduced size.  Exceptionally high levels of performance in all of these areas can be readily found in the biological bearings of skeletal systems.   The global objectives of the proposed research program are to further the development of bearing technology through better understanding the material properties, design and function of biological bearings.   Bearing function is related to 5 fundamental parameters, i.e. material properties, bearing surface geometry, motion, loading, and lubrication / nutrition.  Optimal bearing performance can only be achieved within an envelope of appropriate operational parameters.  Healthy biological bearings function within this operational parameter envelope.   The scientific approach to be used in this research recognizes that significant insight into healthy biological bearing function should be possible through a comprehensive mechanical investigation into their operational parameters.   Using techniques and equipment developed within our laboratory we will investigate and quantify biological bearing operational parameters and develop the microscopic and macroscopic models necessary to further study their properties and function.  The research will utilize some of the most advanced testing strategies, optical scanning technology and modelling and analysis routines currently available.