Abstract Three major types of microstructural alterations occurring under rolling contact fatigue, white etching areas (WEAs), dark etching regions (DERs) and white etching bands (WEBs), are modelled under a unified approach: dislocation-assisted carbon migration theory. Following our previous work on DERs and WEBs, a novel model is proposed to describe dislocation cell formation in WEAs. The proposed model yields predictions of WEAs appearance, agreeing with experimental observations. Bearing life can be estimated by the WEA appearance model. The three microstructural alterations models are combined and, for the first time, it becomes possible to predict the occurrence and the formation progress of WEAs, DERs and WEBs with a unified theory. Microstructural alteration maps are plotted as a function of number of cycles, temperature, contact pressure and stress cycle frequency. The models are validated by the experimental results reported over the last 50 years.

中文翻译：

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滚动接触疲劳下轴承钢显微组织变化的统一理论

摘要 滚动接触疲劳下发生的三种主要类型的微观结构变化，白色蚀刻区 (WEA)、暗蚀刻区 (DER) 和白色蚀刻带 (WEBs)，在统一的方法下建模：位错辅助碳迁移理论。继我们之前在 DER 和 WEB 上的工作之后，提出了一种新模型来描述 WEA 中位错细胞的形成。所提出的模型产生对 WEA 外观的预测，与实验观察一致。轴承寿命可以通过 WEA 外观模型估算。将三种微观结构改造模型相结合，首次以统一的理论预测WEAs、DERs和WEBs的发生和形成过程成为可能。微观结构变化图绘制为循环次数、温度、接触压力和应力循环频率。这些模型得到了过去 50 年报告的实验结果的验证。