A Critique of Rolling Contact Fatigue Criteria for Bearing Rings with Hoop Stresses

Abstract

Tensile residual and interference fit stresses not treated in classical bearing formulations are known to reduce bearing rolling contact fatigue (RCF) life. Recent modifications of such theory to account for these stresses have simply included them in the computation of a single yield stress type criterion—either maximum shear or equivalent stress. An alternative modification is proposed and demonstrated for fatigue crack initiation that recognizes the primary influence of the maximum range of shear stress but includes the effect of normal stress on the critical planes, as in other successful bulk fatigue criteria for multiaxial nonproportional stress cycle fatigue.

Presented as a Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers paper at the ASME/STLE Tribology Conference in Lahaina, Hawaii, October 16–20, 1994

KEY WORDS:

• Rolling Contact Fatigue
• Rolling Element Bearings
• Stress Analysis
• Contact Mechanics

Notes

Presented as a Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers paper at the ASME/STLE Tribology Conference in Lahaina, Hawaii, October 16–20, 1994