Fretting fatigue life estimations based on fretting mechanisms

► Low cycle fretting fatigue strength was estimated based on a new critical distance theory, which is modified for high stress region using the ultimate tensile strength σB and fracture toughness KIC. ► The critical distance for estimating low cycle fretting fatigue strength was calculated by interpolation of critical distance on fretting fatigue limit (estimated from σw0 and ΔKth ) with critical distance on static strength (estimated from σB and KIC). ► These fretting fatigue strength and life estimated results coincided well with the fretting fatigue test results at each stress and life level, and we can confirm the availability of these fretting fatigue strength and life estimation methods by means of the standardized fretting fatigue S-N curve estimation method.