Research progress of rolling contact fatigue of bearing steels
FU Han-wei1, CUI Yi-nan2,3, ZHANG Chi4,5, ZHANG Hu1,6
1. School of Materials Science and Engineering,Beihang University,Beijing 100191,China; 2. Key Laboratory of Applied Mechanics of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100084, China; 3. School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; 4. Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100084, China; 5. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; 6. Ningbo Institute of Technology, Beihang University, Ningbo 315832, Zhejiang, China
Abstract:This paper presents a comprehensive elaboration of research focus, methods and progress in the field of rolling contact fatigue of bearing steels. The paper firstly analyzes the distribution of Hertzian stress components inside material under rolling contact as well as material response to cyclic stress, revealing the root cause of fatigue happening at subsurface. Secondly, methods of fatigue testing on bearing steels are summarized, with their advantages and disadvantages analyzed. Thirdly, key factors that influence the rolling contact fatigue life of bearing steels are discussed. Finally, two main manifestations of subsurface-induced rolling contact fatigue of bearing steels, crack growth and microstructural decay, are systematically elucidated, where the vital fatigue mechanisms are introduced and key research directions in the future are proposed.
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