Lubricant Effects on Fatigue in a Stationary Concentrated Contact Under Vibratory Loading

Abstract

Contact fatigue, brinnelling, and erosion are reported, for a stationary ball-on-flat contact, subjected to oscillatory normal load. Damage was least in the absence of lubricant, and greatest with a diester lubricant. Low-viscosity mineral oil was less severe in its effects than was a high-viscosity mineral oil. In those cases where damage was least, it could be attributed to a process of fatigue spalling. In those cases where it was severe, other processes such as fretting could be postulated, but fatigue still appeared to be the favored cause.