The Crack Propagation Trend Analysis in Ceramic Rolling Element Bearing considering Initial Crack Angle and Contact Load Effect

Silicon nitride ceramic bearings are widely used for their excellent performance. However, due to special manufacturing method, cracks will occur on ball surface, and this initial surface crack propagate under the action of cyclic stress, which lead material spalling. This greatly limit its service life in practical applications, especially heavy load at high speed. Therefore, it is necessary study propagation silicon bearings. In paper, effect angle contact growth analysed by finite element method (FEM). A three-dimensional model a bearing containing an created FEM. The initially classified based between location most dangerous each type known theoretical analysis. stress intensity factors (SIFs) calculated front investigate position growth. Subsequently, SIFs subdivided again propagation.