MODELING OF CONTACT INTERACTION OF ARTICULAR CARTILAGES CONSIDERING SYNOVIAL FLUID

Introduction.Synovial fluid is an important aspect of joint function.Its amount plays an important role during physical activity, as it performs the function of intra-articular lubrication, preventing friction of articular cartilage and their wear; participates in maintaining the normal ratio of articular surfaces, increases their mobility; provides nutrition to articular cartilage; serves as an additional shock absorber.At low load on the joint, it is absorbed into the pores of the cartilage tissue, with increasing pressure, it is squeezed out of the pores and provides lubrication.Without adequate lubrication and shock absorption, cartilage can wear out faster, leading to the development of diseases.The balance between the production of synovial fluid and its absorption is also important.If this balance is disturbed, the risk of increased pressure in the joint increases, which can lead to degenerative changes.The synovial fluid, along with the elastic structure of the cartilage, reduces the risk of damage and prevents premature aging of the joints.That is why articular cartilage slides almost frictionlessly during significant physical activity.Problem Formulation.Consider the contact interaction of articular cartilages under plane strain conditions.The surface of one cartilage is smooth, and the other has irregularities described by a periodic function.The cartilages are in contact under the action of uniform compressive stresses set at infinity P .Due to the irregularity of one of the cartilages, their contact is incomplete