FRETTING FATIGUE ANALYSIS USING FRACTURE MECHANICS.

Abstract

In this paper, an estimation method for fretting fatigue strength is proposed. Fretting fatigue cracks initiate very early in the fatigue life of metals, which is dominated by the propagation process of small cracks. Characteristics of fretting fatigue cracks are analysed using stress intensity factors at the tip of cracks growing from the contact edges. The stress intensity factors are calculated from the contact pressure and tangential stress distributions on the contact surfaces. Fretting fatigue limits were estimated by comparing the stress intensity factor ranges with the threshold stress intensity factor range of the material. These calculated results were then compared with experimental results of fretting fatigue tests.