Experimental and analytical investigation of effects of refurbishing on rolling contact fatigue

For the analytical investigation, a two-dimensional elastic-plastic finite element model was developed to estimate RCF life for pristine and refurbished specimens of case carburized steel. The characteristics of case carburized materials (e.g., variations in hardness and residual stresses) were incorporated in the 2D finite element model. In the present study, a continuum damage mechanics approach was employed to determine fatigue damage accumulation in original and refurbished domains. The results obtained from the experimental and FEA models for pristine and refurbished case carburized steel are in good agreement for both grinding depths.