Fatigue Analysis of Spherical Contact Subjected to Cyclic Elastic-Plastic Normal Loading

Abstract

Surface fatigue resulting from cyclic contact loading is a main reason for the rough surface wear. Since a rough surface consists of many asperities, the fatigue in one asperity is investigated. The multiaxial Fatemi–Socie fatigue criterion is adopted to study the contact fatigue in a spherical asperity subjected to cyclic elastic-plastic normal loading. The fatigue damage in the asperity is predicted. The maximum fatigue damage occurs at the edge of the maximum contact area. Two typical patterns are found for the fatigue damage distribution. Locations and orientations of fatigue microcrack initiation are also identified. Finally, future research directions are discussed.