This paper reports on the use of the Newton successive overrelaxation method to solve problems of elastohydrodynamic lubrication of soft-layered solids at elliptical contacts. Solutions have been obtained for a range of load, speed, elastic layer thickness and conjunction ellipticity, enabling the film thickness to be determined. The empirical formula thus derived is used to estimate the effective film thickness in the major load-carrying synovial joints in the body.
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