CRACK GROWTH RATE. ITS MEASUREMENT AND A CONTROLLING FACTOR IN ROLLING CONTACT FATIGUE

An optical method has been developed for measuring the extent of cracking in test specimens which have failed by fatigue under rolling contact conditions. The data from these measurements are expressed in terms of the overall crack growth rate, and it is found that an excellent correlation exists between fatigue life and the rate at which cracks branch and propagate. The correlation appears to be independent of stress, lubricant chemistry, and probably metallurgy; this shows that crack branching rate controls fatigue life. The results do show that lubricant chemical factors affect fatigue life through the crack branching rate.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Lubricating Engineers

  838 Busse Highway
  Park Ridge, IL  United States  60068
• Authors:
  • Polk, C J
  • Rowe, C N
• Publication Date: 1976-1

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 23-32
• Serial:
  • American Society of Lubricating Engineers-Transactions
  • Volume: 19
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: American Society of Lubricating Engineers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cracking; Fatigue cracking; Metallurgy; Rail steel; Steel
• Uncontrolled Terms: Crack propagation
• Old TRIS Terms: Rail metallurgy; Steel metallurgy
• Subject Areas: Materials; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00131533
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 14 1976 12:00AM