Pitting formation under rolling contact

• Published in: Theoretical and applied fracture mechanics Vol. 34; no. 1; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Chue, C.H, Chung, H.H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Computational techniques; Exact sciences and technology; Finite-element and galerkin methods; Fracture mechanics (crack, fatigue, damage...); Fracture mechanics, fatigue and cracks; Fractures; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Mathematical methods in physics; Mechanical contact (friction...); Mechanical properties and methods of testing. Rheology. Fracture mechanics. Tribology; Metals. Metallurgy; Physics; Solid mechanics; Structural and continuum mechanics; Tribology and mechanical contacts; Probabilistic approach; Surface crack; Rupture; Rail vehicle; Rolling contact; Energy density; Two dimensional model; Numerical method; Finite element method; Rail; Scaling; Crack initiation; Erosion
• ISSN: 0167-8442; 1872-7638
• DOI: 10.1016/S0167-8442(00)00019-7

The mechanism of pitting caused by rolling contact is analyzed using the fracture mechanics approach. The governing factors are the initial crack length, crack angle, contact force, friction, strain hardened layer, and the hydraulic pressure of trapped fluid acting on the crack surface. Mode I and II stress intensity and the strain energy density factors are calculated by application of the two-dimensional finite element method. The strain energy density criterion is applied to show that shallow angle crack under small rolling contact force and friction enhances the probability of pitting under the roller’s running surface. The presence of a strain hardened surface layer also tends to affect the fracture behavior. The analytical results agree well with the experimental observations.