Abstract
At first, we analyze the stress intensity factors at a crack tip of multiple kinked crack from a horizontal initial crack in a half-space due to rolling/sliding contact with frictional heat. On the basis of the results of stress intensity factors and applying the maximum energy release rate criterion to each kinks in order, the two-dimensional fatigue crack growth path are simulated, and making use of the fatigue crack growth law obtained from fatigue experimental results for a high carbon chromium bearing steel (AISI-52100), the propagation fatigue lives until the surface tribological failures are predicted due to the repetition of rolling-sliding contact. And we show that the increase of frictional coefficient, sliding/rolling ratio reduce the propagation fatigue lives, and the shortening of the depth of a horizontal initial subsurface crack reduce the propagation life and is apt to be easily induced the fatigue surface tribological failures.
