Universal method for contact fatigue determination

In the process of contact wear, pitting is formed, which destroys the surface of the part. Existing methods for assessing contact fatigue (GOST 25.501-78, R 50-54-30-87) reveal a stress level at which pitting does not occur. At the same time, there is no information about surface hardening, which is one of the main ways to increase contact fatigue. In this case, traditional approaches to the study of the wear mechanism do not make it possible to predict the operational evolution of the loaded surface of the part. The authors have developed a universal method for determining the contact fatigue of materials, providing opportunities for resource-efficient design of parts operating under the action of pulsating contact stresses.•Design and operating principle of the patented testing device.•Universal methodology for determining the contact fatigue of materials.•Our novel test method demonstrated a convergence of finite element modeling and real test in terms of crack formation in maximum stress zones.