Fretting fatigue limit as a short crack problem at the edge of contact

This paper proposes a local stress concept to evaluate the fretting fatigue limit for contact edge cracks. A unique S–N curve based on the local stress could be obtained for a contact edge crack irrespective of mechanical factors such as contact pressure, relative slip, contact length, specimen size and loading type. The analytical background for the local stress concept was studied using FEM analysis. It was shown that the local stress uniquely determined the ΔK change due to crack growth as well as the stress distribution near the contact edge. The condition that determined the fretting fatigue limit was predicted by combining the ΔK change due to crack growth and the ΔK_th for a short crack. The formation of a non‐propagating crack at the fatigue limit was predicted by the model and it was experimentally confirmed by a long‐life fretting fatigue test.