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Description
- Subsurface initiated contact fatigue is the normal damage mode exhibited by a bearing which has reached the end of its service life estimated by the basic rating life – L10
- Bearing selection should be based on selecting a bearing with the dynamic capacity required to provide the desired service life in terms of reliability
Causes/Progression
- Fatigue cracks initiate at non-metallic inclusions located near the area of maximum shear stress
- Cracks propagate to the surface resulting in the removal of a small piece of material
- Surface spalling leads to large contact pressures resulting in damage propagation
- Advanced damage results in adverse running conditions which eventually requires replacement of the bearing
Normal contact fatigue spalling