In-depth analysis of the fatigue mechanism induced by inclusions for high-strength bearing steels

• Published in: International journal of minerals, metallurgy and materials Vol. 28; no. 5; pp. 826 - 834
• Main Authors: Gu, Chao, Liu, Wen-qi, Lian, Jun-he, Bao, Yan-ping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing University of Science and Technology Beijing 01.05.2021; Springer Nature B.V; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China%Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aalto University, Puumiehenkuja 3, 02150 Espoo, Finland
• Subjects: Bearing steels; Bonding strength; Ceramics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composites; Corrosion and Coatings; Fatigue life; Finite element method; Glass; Inclusions; Materials Science; Mechanical properties; Metal fatigue; Metallic Materials; Modulus of elasticity; Natural Materials; Steel; Stress concentration; Stress distribution; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; Tribology; inclusion; stress distribution; fatigue; numerical study; high-strength bearing steel
• ISSN: 1674-4799; 1869-103X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12613-020-2223-9

A numerical study of stress distribution and fatigue behavior in terms of the effect of voids adjacent to inclusions was conducted with finite element modeling simulations under different assumptions. Fatigue mechanisms were also analyzed accordingly. The results showed that the effects of inclusions on fatigue life will distinctly decrease if the mechanical properties are close to those of the steel matrix. For the inclusions, which are tightly bonded with the steel matrix, when the Young’s modulus is larger than that of the steel matrix, the stress will concentrate inside the inclusion; otherwise, the stress will concentrate in the steel matrix. If voids exist on the interface between inclusions and the steel matrix, their effects on the fatigue process differ with their positions relative to the inclusions. The void on one side of an inclusion perpendicular to the fatigue loading direction will aggravate the effect of inclusions on fatigue behavior and lead to a sharp stress concentration. The void on the top of inclusion along the fatigue loading direction will accelerate the debonding between the inclusion and steel matrix.