Observations of the effect of varying Hoop stress on fatigue failure and the formation of white etching areas in hydrogen infused 100Cr6 steel rings

•RCF tests are conducted on hydrogen infused bearing steel rings.•Tests conducted for two levels of tensile Hoop stress.•White etching cracks similar to those seen in the field observed.•Fatigue life decreases with increasing Hoop stress.

White etching cracks (WECs) in wind turbine gearbox bearings have been studied previously. Rolling contact fatigue (RCF) tests are conducted on 100Cr6 bearing steel rings, in this study, to generate WECs like those found in wind turbine bearings. This research studies the effect of two different levels of tensile Hoop stresses on the failure life and formation of WECs in the rings. The rings are pre-charged with hydrogen before RCF tests are conducted. It is found that these rings experience incremental fatigue failure, followed by a sudden rapid failure. The fractography, Reflecting Light Microscopy (RLM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) results are presented in this paper.