Investigation of Factors Governing Fatigue Life with the Rolling-Contact Fatigue Spin Rig

Abstract
A simple bench test for evaluating materials and lubricants under actual rolling-contact stresses is described. Stress-life relationships for mineral-oil lubricated SAE 52100 balls and AISI M-50 (MV-1) tool steel cylinders compared favorably with those obtained in full-scale bearings. Most failures originated in subsurface shear and closely resembled those obtained in bearings. A study of the effect of fiber orientation on fatigue strength revealed that the polar (or end grain) area was weaker in fatigue than the non-polar area. Structure changes were found in the highly stressed regions of both SAE 52100 and AISI M-1 tool steel. Inclusions, structure change, and directionalism are believed to adversely affect fatigue life.

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