Computation of Sliding Friction and Ratcheting Strain of Sintered and Hardened Steels Under Contact Fatigue Conditions

Abstract

Fatigue properties of powder metallurgy parts are affected mainly by the porosity fraction. Even though it has inferior mechanical and physical properties over the conventional materials, the application of powder metallurgy products in automotive fields is seen in recent trends. The rolling-sliding contact fatigue behavior of sintered and hardened steels has been investigated by performing experiments that represent practical sliding friction coefficient component prevailing in the medium- and heavy-duty bearings and gears. Introduction of sliding friction coefficient changes the typical failure pattern and wear rate of sintered and hardened steels. The sliding friction has been computed from available models and compared with the experimental data. The ratcheting strain has also been predicted for sintered and hardened steels for various contact pressures and sliding friction coefficients. The maximum value of this strain is responsible for surface crack initiation. The wear particle analysis is carried out for the sintered and hardened steels under rolling-sliding contact fatigue conditions. The ferrogram slides for pore free steel under the rolling-sliding contact fatigue conditions are also prepared to study the effect of porosity in wear mechanism. The characteristics of wear morphology and the size, shape, and concentration of worn particles for sintered and hardened steels are also analyzed for various rolling-sliding contact fatigue conditions.