Analysis of Rolling Contact Spall Life in 440 C Steel Bearing Rims

摘要

The results of a two year study of the mechanisms of spall failure in the HPOTPbearings are described. The objective was to build a foundation for detailed analyses of the contact life in terms of: cyclic plasticity, contact mechanics, spall nucleation, and spall growth. Since the laboratory rolling contact testing is carried out in the 3 ball/rod contact fatigue testing machine, the analysis of the contacts and contact lives produced in this machine received attention. The results from the experimentally observed growth lives are compared with calculated predictions derived from the fracture mechanics calculations.