A pendulum test as a tool to evaluate viscous friction parameters in the equine fetlock joint

作者：Noble Prisca^*; Lumay Geoffroy; Coninx Marc; Collin Bernard; Magnee Adrien; Lecomte Beckers Jacqueline; Denoix Jean M; Serteyn Didier

来源：Veterinary Journal, 2011, 188(2): 204-209.

DOI：10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.03.016

• Equine articular cartilage
• Viscous damping coefficient
• Friction coefficient
• Lubrication
• Pendulum test

An equine fetlock joint pendulum test was studied and the influence of post mortem time and intra-articular lipid solvent on the viscous frictional response examined. Fresh equine digits (group 1, n = 6 controls; group 2, n = 6 lipid solvent) were mounted on a pendulum tribometer. Assuming that pendular joint damping could be modelled by a harmonic oscillator fluid damping (HOFD), damping time (tau), viscous damping coefficient (c) and friction coefficient (mu) were monitored for 5 h under experimental conditions (400 N; 20 degrees C). In all experiments, pendular joint damping was found to follow an exponential decay R(2) = 0.99714), which confirmed that joint damping was fluid.
The evolution of tau, mu and mu was found to be significantly (P < 0.05) different in the two groups, with a decrease in T and an increase in c and mu that was faster and more prominent in digits from group 2. It was concluded that pendular joint damping could be modelled by a HOFD model. The influence of post mortem time on results suggested that, ideally, joint mechanical properties should only be tested on fresh cadavers at the same post mortem time. Moreover, the addition of lipid solvent was found to be responsible for upper viscous friction parameters and for a reduced damping time, which suggested that articular lubricating ability was compromised. This equine pendulum test could be used to test the efficacy of various bio-lubricant treatments.

• 出版日期2011-5