The Determination of Stresses in Rolling-Contact Elements

Stress patterns in lubricated rolling-contact elements have been computed from surface pressures and temperatures between pairs of rolling disks, both cylindrical or both crowned, measured by means of evaporated surface transducers. The maximum mechanical shearing stresses computed for both cylindrical and crowned disks proved to be nearly equal to those that would have occurred under static contact, but the calculated depth of those stresses was reduced for cylindrical rollers in dynamic contact. The maximum shear reversals computed for rolling cylindrical disks were noticeably below the corresponding shear differences for the static cases. Local pressure anomalies, such as the pressure spike in the one particular case chosen for investigation, did not seem to alter significantly the shear-stress patterns. Thermal shearing stresses do not appear to be a significant portion of the maximum stress but do dominate over mechanical shearing stresses near the surface of the elements.