Effect of displacement amplitude on fretting fatigue behavior of hoisting rope wires in low cycle fatigue

The effect of displacement amplitude on fretting fatigue behavior of steel wires in low cycle fatigue at two cyclic strain levels was investigated. Evolutions of normalized tangential force and morphologies of contact scars were investigated to examine the wear mechanisms. Fretting regime and fretting fatigue life were explored. Acoustic emission technique was utilized to reveal wire failure mechanisms. The results show that an increase of displacement amplitude increases normalized tangential force but decreases the fretting fatigue life. Fretting contact conditions are all mixed fretting regimes. Fretting damage and crack nucleation and propagation accelerate with increasing displacement amplitude.

► We examine the fretting fatigue behavior of steel wires in low cycle fatigue.
► The fretting contact condition is the mixed fretting regime in all cases.
► Larger displacement amplitude induces lower fretting fatigue life.
► An increase of displacement amplitude intensifies the fretting damage.
► Acoustic emission technique is used to reveal the crack initiation and propagation.