Influence of Contact Temperature on Contact Fatigue Failure Forms: Part 1—Contact Temperature Analysis of Rolling-Sliding Contact Specimen

Abstract

Under rolling-sliding contact, specimens have different failure forms, such as pitting and spalling etc. The surface roughness of specimen in contact has a strong influence on the failure form. The elevated contact temperature produced by a rougher surface is one of the key factors in producing changes in failure form. According to the results of the test and the analysis, the following viewpoint is suggested to explain the influence of the roughness on failure forms: the rougher contact surface produces elevated contact temperature; the elevated contact temperature causes the material yield strength over local areas to reduce transiently thus resulting in a plastic deformation layer, and have the change of failure form. The present study includes two parts: in the first part, the analysis of contact temperature distribution is carried out; in the second part, the results of the test and analysis are discussed.