What is a suitable thickness for a spinal disc implant endplate?

[cabellos6]

rectangular plate bending...

I am designing an endplate for a spinal disc implant as shown in the image below.

http://img155.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ndplatenb5.jpg"

I need to determine a suitable thickness of plate h. I thought about looking into winkler foundations to begin with but i have not studied this as yet and my supervisor has since told me this is too complex. Looking at the picture above how might i go about finding this suitable thickness of plate h?

Thanks

 

[Still Waters]

I am unable to open the link.

 

[Still Waters]

There also may be some forums that could be of some use, search "winkler foundations".

 

[FredGarvin]

Winkler foundations are usually meant for beams on flexible foundations. Are you sure that is what you really need (I can't open the link either)?