In this investigation common aerospace-quality bearing steels was evaluated in rolling contact fatigue both experimentally and analytically. Three aerospace-quality bearing steels was procured and evaluated. First, the bearing steels were evaluated using a 3 ball-on-rod rolling contact fatigue test rig. Next, the same bearing steels were evaluated using a torsion fatigue test rig in order to quantify these materials’ performance against the damage causing stress in RCF – shear reversal. The torsion S-N data provided the foundation for the determination of material constants that were used in a continuum damage mechanics finite element model (CDM-FE model), which considered the Fatemi-Socie critical plane approach as the failure criteria. These material constants captured the material cleanliness effect between the various materials investigated. Additionally, the CDM-FE model utilized Voronoi tessellations to capture the material topological effect. RCF simulations were performed at the same operating conditions as in the 3 ball-on-rod test apparatus. Torsional fatigue results from this investigation indicated which material possessed the largest ultimate shear strength, and which material performed best in low cycle and high cycle fatigue. The three ball-on-rod results established experimentally which material performed superior in RCF. It was observed that good corroboration existed between the analytical simulation life predictions and the 3 ball-on-rod experimental results.

在本次调查中，通过实验和分析对普通航空航天级轴承钢的滚动接触疲劳进行了评估。采购并评估了三种航空级优质轴承钢。首先，使用 3 球杆滚动接触疲劳试验台对轴承钢进行评估。接下来，使用扭转疲劳试验台对相同的轴承钢进行了评估，以量化这些材料在抵抗 RCF 中引起的应力损坏（剪切反转）方面的性能。扭转 SN 数据为确定连续损伤力学有限元模型（CDM-FE 模型）中使用的材料常数奠定了基础，该模型将 Fatemi-Socie 临界平面方法视为失效准则。这些材料常数捕获了所研究的各种材料之间的材料清洁度效果。此外，CDM-FE 模型利用 Voronoi 镶嵌来捕捉材料拓扑效应。RCF 模拟是在与 3 球杆测试设备相同的操作条件下进行的。该调查的扭转疲劳结果表明哪种材料具有最大的极限剪切强度，以及哪种材料在低周疲劳和高周疲劳中表现最好。三个球棒结果通过实验确定了哪种材料在 RCF 中表现更好。据观察，分析模拟寿命预测与 3 球杆实验结果之间存在良好的证实。该调查的扭转疲劳结果表明哪种材料具有最大的极限剪切强度，以及哪种材料在低周疲劳和高周疲劳中表现最好。三个球棒结果通过实验确定了哪种材料在 RCF 中表现更好。据观察，分析模拟寿命预测与 3 球杆实验结果之间存在良好的证实。该调查的扭转疲劳结果表明哪种材料具有最大的极限剪切强度，以及哪种材料在低周疲劳和高周疲劳中表现最好。三个球棒结果通过实验确定了哪种材料在 RCF 中表现更好。据观察，分析模拟寿命预测与 3 球杆实验结果之间存在良好的证实。