A New Physically Based Model for Predicting the Fatigue Life Distribution of Rolling Bearings

Abstract

The available models are unable to estimate the fatigue life distribution of bearings explicitly taking into account material parameters. This paper presents a new model, that has been developed from a detailed analysis of damage mechanisms, for the prediction of the failure of rolling bearings operating under rolling fatigue conditions. The new approach introduces both nucleation and growth of microcracks present, or not, at the surface of the contact in the presence, or not, of inclusions. The distribution of fatigue lives is given for different loading conditions corresponding to smooth, rough or indented contacts. A good agreement is observed between the theoretical and experimental results.