Evaluation of Rolling Contact Fatigue by Using an X-Ray Diffraction Ring Analyzer

Abstract

In this report, rolling contact fatigue (RCF) progression in two-cylinder type RCF testing is evaluated by using an X-ray diffraction ring analyzer, which can rapidly obtain tri-axial stress and the orientation of crystallite. The large compressive and three principal stresses on the RCF surface are observed under boundary lubrication. It is considered that the crack occurrence and its propagation by asperity contact of surface roughness are caused by residual principal shear stress and the repeated contact stress. In addition, the behavior of RCF progression from the point of view of the X-ray measurements is similar for the driving and driven specimen until the generation of peeling begins. This supports the conclusion of Kaneta et al. that the RCF progression for the driven cylinder is the same as that for driving cylinder until peeling occurs.