Micromechanism of Plastic Accumulation and Damage Initiation in Bearing Steels under Cyclic Shear Deformation: A Molecular Dynamics Study

Fatigue failure usually occurs on the subsurface in rolling bearings due to multiaxial and non-proportional fatigue loadings between elements. One of main stress components is alternating shear stress. This paper focuses micromechanism plastic accumulation damage initiation bearing steels under cyclic deformation. The distribution was firstly investigated by finite element simulation. An atomic model containing bcc-Fe cementite phases built molecular dynamics (MD). Shear stress–strain characteristics were discussed explore mechanical properties model. Ten cycles designed mechanism initiation. responses evolutions dislocaitons, defect meshes high-strain atoms discussed. results show that softening when stage. Severe deformation can accelerate result an earlier slip phase than monotonic deformation, which might be microscopic steels.