Crystallographic Analyses on Cracks Initiated by Rolling Contact Fatigue in High Carbon Chromium Bearing Steel

Crack formation by a rolling contact fatigue in a high carbon chromium bearing steel has been discussed. Newly developed method for preparing specimens including pre-existing voids enabled one to observe the early stage of fatigue crack formation. Many fatigue cracks were formed around the voids. The positions of crack formation and the direction of the cracks were consistent with those forecasted by finite element analysis. Fatigue crack formation was followed by formation of the WEAs.