Modelling of third body effect on rolling contact fatigue damage

Abstract

The contact problem for a rolling elastic sphere and an elastic half-space covered with a viscoelastic layer (third body) is considered. The layer properties in normal and tangential directions are described by the Maxwell model. Based on the macroscopic approach of the contact fatigue damage accumulation the rate of damage accumulation in an elastic half-space is assumed depending on the amplitude values of the principal shear stresses or the equivalent von Mises stress. The influence of the relative longitudinal slippage, the sliding friction coefficient and the properties of the intermediate layer on the internal stresses and at the depth of contact fatigue cracks initiation is studied. The results indicate that the maximum damage can occur both on the surface of the elastic half-space and at a certain depth. The increase of the friction coefficient or relative longitudinal slippage leads to reaching the maximum value of the principal shear stress amplitude on the surface of the half-space, which results in contact fatigue surface fracture (wear). The results also demonstrate that the presence of a viscoelastic layer leads to a decrease of the principal shear stress amplitude within the elastic half-space.