Surface initiation of rolling contact fatigue at asperities considering slip, shear limit and thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication

Abstract

Abstract A numerical investigation was performed, with single axisymmetric asperities passing through lubricated rolling contacts at different slip. Two explanatory and cooperating phenomena were found as to why the damage develops more frequently at negative than positive slip. Metal contact occurred in the inlet, where tractive asperity contacts at negative slip provided a large tensile surface stress outside the contact. As the asperity moved through the contact, sliding supplied it with lubricant and heated the lubricant along the contact. The shear tractions were thus higher near the inlet than the outlet, making them more detrimental for negative than positive slip.