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The Numerical Model of Electrothermal Deformations of Carbides in Bearing Steel as the Possible Cause of White Etching Cracks Initiation

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Abstract

Despite the ongoing debates on influence of hydrogen uptake and penetration in the steel, pulsed and extraordinary fatigue on white etching cracks (WEC) formation in bearing steel SAE52100, the present paper proposes an alternative hypothesis on electrothermal initiation of the WEC. The hypothesis points to differences between electrical and thermal properties of elements of steel microstructure that lead sequentially to redistribution of current, resistivity heating, thermal expansion and deformations of the carbide particle. Appearance of a nano-void is also predicted by the model in the cases of the martensite and the bainite structures. The model also predicts higher probability of the WEC formation for the bainitic steel.

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Acknowledgments

The contribution of Dr. M. Ščepanskis is financially supported by European Social Fund within the Project No. 2013/0018/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/13/APIA/VIAA/061. The contribution of the other co-authors was supported by Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Mathematical Modeling of Environmental and Technological Processes, University of Latvia, Zeļļu iela 8, Rīga, 1002, Latvia

    Mihails Ščepanskis & Andris Jakovičs

  2. Institute of Physics, University of Latvia, Miera iela 32, Salaspils, 2169, Latvia

    Imants Kaldre

  3. Tribology Fundamentals, Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG, Industriestraße 1-3, 91074, Herzogenaurach, Germany

    Walter Holweger

  4. Institute of Electrotechnology, Leibniz University of Hanover, Wilhelm-Busch-Str. 4, 30167, Hannover, Germany

    Bernard Nacke

  5. Central Facility for Electron Microscopy, RWTH Aachen University, Ahornstr. 55, 52074, Aachen, Germany

    Annika Martina Diederichs

Authors
  1. Mihails Ščepanskis
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  2. Andris Jakovičs
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  3. Imants Kaldre
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  4. Walter Holweger
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  5. Bernard Nacke
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  6. Annika Martina Diederichs
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Correspondence to Mihails Ščepanskis.

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Ščepanskis, M., Jakovičs, A., Kaldre, I. et al. The Numerical Model of Electrothermal Deformations of Carbides in Bearing Steel as the Possible Cause of White Etching Cracks Initiation. Tribol Lett 59, 37 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-015-0564-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-015-0564-8

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