Kinetic friction properties of bearing steel under reciprocating micro-sliding conditions

Abstract

Rolling contact fatigue (RCF) such as pitting, flaking and shelling has a close relationship with shear-mode fatigue crack initiation and propagation. Also, it is known that the threshold condition and the crack growth behavior of shear-mode fatigue crack are significantly affected by the interaction of opposing crack faces. In order to apply fracture mechanics to the strength design of rolling contact machine elements, it is important to understand the friction and wear properties on the crack faces. In this study, the effects of nominal contact pressure, p, test frequency, f, and surface roughness, Ra, on the kinetic friction properties of bearing steel (JIS. SUJ2) were investigated by using a ring-on-ring testing method.