ABSTRACT
Rolling contact fatigue (RCF) is classiŸed within as a wear mode. ˜is mode removes material from the contact surface of a machine element primarily due to rolling motion. ˜e most common machine elements associated with this wear mode are rolling element bearings; however, gears, cams, clutches, and other mechanisms are also prone to this wear mode depending on their design style. At a high level, the mechanism is associated with the concentrated contact causing stresses in the material that change, or cycle, as the contact moves over the surface. ˜e cyclical nature of the subsurface stress may result in crack initiation and propagation from a weak point in the material and removal of material from the surface. ˜e result of this wear is the formation of a pit on the contact surface, which is o§en referred to as a spall.
