Cumulative Plastic Deformation in Rolling Contact

Abstract

Plastic deformation that accumulates with running time may constitute a mode of failure in some rolling element applications, particularly at elevated temperature. This phenomenon is studied in a simple room temperature investigation involving annealed brass toroids and cylinders mated with hard steel rollers. Evidence of sizable accumulation of plastic strain with cycles of rolling, despite subsequent contact stress reduction, leads to a consideration of the effect of a complex combined stress history, such as that induced by the rolling action, on plastic flow in metals.