Clift S E, Hayes A, Miles A W, Harris B, Dieppe P A
School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath.
Proc Inst Mech Eng H. 1993;207(1):35-40. doi: 10.1243/PIME_PROC_1993_207_266_02.
The deposition of crystals in joints is a feature of a number of joint diseases. Crystals are frequently observed on the surface of articular cartilage and in the mid-zone. The purpose of this investigation was to model the stress concentrations in the mid-zone of the cartilage layer arising from the presence of large crystal aggregates. Scanning electron microscopy was used to determine the geometry and distribution of crystal aggregates within the cartilage layer. Finite element and photoelastic approaches were then used to predict the stress distribution around spherical aggregates 50 and 100 microns in diameter. The implication of the results is that very densely packed and tightly bound spherical aggregates will themselves carry a certain amount of load. However, less tightly packed aggregates, perhaps interspersed with fibrous tissue, are potentially much more damaging.
晶体在关节中的沉积是多种关节疾病的一个特征。晶体经常出现在关节软骨表面和中间区域。本研究的目的是模拟由于存在大的晶体聚集体而在软骨层中间区域产生的应力集中。使用扫描电子显微镜来确定软骨层内晶体聚集体的几何形状和分布。然后使用有限元和光弹性方法来预测直径为50和100微米的球形聚集体周围的应力分布。结果表明，非常密集堆积且紧密结合的球形聚集体本身会承受一定量的负荷。然而，堆积较松散的聚集体，可能夹杂着纤维组织，则具有更大的潜在损伤性。
