Boundary element analysis of surface initiated rolling contact fatigue cracks in wheel/rail contact systems

• Published in: Wear Vol. 253; no. 1; pp. 35 - 41
• Main Authors: Akama, Makoto, Mori, Tadao
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01.07.2002; Amsterdam Elsevier Science; New York, NY
• Subjects: Boundary element method; Boundary-integral methods; Computational techniques; Exact sciences and technology; Fracture mechanics (crack, fatigue, damage...); Fracture mechanics, fatigue and cracks; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Mathematical methods in physics; Mechanical contact (friction...); Physics; Rolling contact fatigue; Solid mechanics; Stress intensity factor; Structural and continuum mechanics; Tribology and mechanical contacts; Rolling contact fatigue; Boundary element method; Stress intensity factor; Wheel; Stress analysis; Rail vehicle; Rolling contact; Mechanical contact; Two dimensional model; Numerical method; Modeling; Fatigue crack; Hertzian contact; Rail; Contact stress
• ISSN: 0043-1648; 1873-2577
• DOI: 10.1016/S0043-1648(02)00080-7

This study performed the boundary element analysis of the cycle of stress intensity factors at the surface initiated rolling contact fatigue crack tip under Hertzian contact stress including an accurate model of friction between the faces of the crack and the effect of fluid inside the crack. A two-dimensional model of a rolling contact fatigue crack has been developed. The model includes the effect of Coulomb friction between the faces of the crack. The fluid in the crack was assumed not only to lubricate the crack faces and reduce the crack face friction coefficient but also to generate a pressure. The obtained results are compared with those of other researchers showing good consistency.