Tangential stress range–compressive stress range diagram for fretting fatigue design curve

Fretting fatigue strength can be effectively predicted regardless of pad geometry, rigidity, contact pressure and slip amplitude based on the tangential stress range–compressive stress range diagram. However, the tangential stress range–compressive stress range diagram is a material property and applicable only to the material concerned. In the present study, a new approach for predicting fretting fatigue strength irrespective of material has been proposed based on a generalized tangential stress range–compressive stress range diagram. The generalized tangential stress range–compressive stress range diagram was obtained by normalizing the tangential stress range and compressive stress range values by tensile strength of each material. It was found that the generalized tangential stress range–compressive stress range diagrams for all the steels merged to one line and could be applicable for predicting fretting fatigue strength of wide range of steels.

Research Highlights
► A generalized tangential stress range–compressive stress range diagram was proposed to predict fretting fatigue strength.
► The generalized diagram was obtained by normalizing the tangential stress range and the compressive stress range using tensile strength.
► The generalized diagram was applicable not only to laboratory-type specimens but also to actual components.
► The proposed generalized diagram can be used as a fretting fatigue design curve.