The influence of ring crack location on the rolling contact fatigue failure of lubricated silicon nitride: experimental studies

This paper presents an experimental study of the influences of ring crack l ocation within the contact path on the rolling contact fatigue failure. The rolling contact tests are performed on silicon nitride/steel elements. Sil icon nitride ball surfaces are examined before testing using a dye-penetran t technique and light microscopy. The surfaces during testing, post-test an d after failure are examined using light microscopy. Research shows that fa tigue failure under rolling contact loading is markedly sensitive to the lo cation of ring crack on the contact track. Only a few locations on the cont act track can lead to fatigue failure at the maximum Hertz contact pressure of 5.58 GPa. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.