Vol. 25, No. 2 (2026), Sim26649 https://doi.org/10.24275/rmiq/Sim26649

Numerical modeling of synovial fluid behavior considering Newtonian and non-Newtonian approaches

 

Authors

N. Martínez-Gutiérrez, L.A. Ibarra-Bracamontes, L.F. Fuentes-Cortés, S.R. Galván-González

Abstract

This work compares two approaches, Newtonian and non-Newtonian, for numerical modeling of synovial fluid behavior under deformation conditions. Fluid viscosity and velocity are analyzed, along with the total pressure in the system during deformation. The Power Law and Carreau approaches are used for addressing the non-Newtonian behavior of the fluid. The results indicate that lower porosity in the articular cartilage region leads to higher fluid velocity in that region, and in the non-Newtonian case, this results in a reduction in synovial fluid viscosity. The Carreau model, which includes a relaxation parameter, allows for smoother transitions in viscosity during deformation. It was found that increasing the deformation distance or decreasing the permeability in the porous medium raises the total pressure. The proposed model enables control of physical variables that could represent the behavior of a biological system under normal conditions or with some deficiency.

Keywords

synovial fluid; articular cartilage; non-Newtonian fluid; Power Law model; Carreau model; simulation.

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