Issue34

T. Makino et alii, Frattura ed Integrità Strutturale, 34 (2015) 334-340; DOI: 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.34.36 334 Focussed on Crack Paths Effect of defect length on rolling contact fatigue crack propagation in high strength steel T. Makino, Y. Neishi Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation, Japan makino.hb3.taizo@jp.nssmc.com, neishi.58e.yutaka@jp.nssmc.com D. Shiozawa, S. Kikuchi, S. Okada Kobe University, Japan shiozawa@mech.kobe-u.ac.jp, kikuchi@mech.kobe-u.ac.jp K. Kajiwara Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, Japan kajiwara@spring8.or.jp Y. Nakai Kobe University, Japan nakai@mech.kobe-u.ac.jp A BSTRACT . The objective of the present paper is to clarify the effect of defect length in depth direction on rolling contact fatigue (RCF) crack propagation in high strength steel. RCF test and synchrotron radiation micro computed tomography (SR micro CT) imaging were conducted. In the case of the defect with the 15  m diameter, flaking life decreased with increasing defect length. In a comparison of the CT image and the SEM view, the shapes of defects and the locations of the horizontal cracks were almost the same respectively. The mechanism of RCF crack propagation was discussed by finite element (FE) analysis. Defects led to higher tensile residual stress than that without defects in the region where the defect exists. The shear stress range at 0.1 mm in depth on the middle line of the defect and the range of mode II stress intensity factor at the bottom of a vertical crack increased with increasing defect length. K EYWORDS . Rolling contact fatigue; Artificial defect; Crack propagation; High strength steel; Synchrotron radiation micro computed tomography imaging; Stress intensity factor. I NTRODUCTION olling contact fatigue (RCF) tests for evaluation of bearing steel are commonly conducted under pure rolling contact with oil lubrication. Non-metallic inclusions in internal region cause fatigue cracks [1-2]. Cracks propagate and eventually form typical RCF damage called flaking. The refinement of sphere-type inclusions like oxides has R