LAUSR

Abstract The fretting fatigue behaviour of SAE 52100 bearing steel has been investigated up to very high fatigue cycles. The fretting fatigue strength was found to be markedly lower than the plain fatigue strength of the alloy. The fatigue strength reduction is higher in very high cycle fatigue regime which varies with fretting contact load. The fretting fatigue life is restricted in high cycle fatigue regime when the contact load is higher than the critical one. The rate of fretting damage growth influences the fretting fatigue life in very high cycle fatigue regime. The specimens with lower surface wear rate acquire higher fretting fatigue life by impeding the increase of fretting damage size.