An experimental study of fretting corrosion at a bearing/cartridge interface

A device has been built to study fretting corrosion phenomena at a bearing/cartridge interface. The research is a continuation of a larger study funded by the Naval Research Laboratory. Its main objective is to determine the important parameters influencing fretting and fretting corrosion in rolling element bearings. The new device is capable of varying load from zero to 200 N (45 lbf), amplitude of vibration from zero to 500 µm (0.0197 in.), and frequency from 2.5 to 100 Hz for axial relative motion. Five sets of bearings and cartridges can be tested simultaneously at the same amplitude and frequency of vibration. Using this device with 52100 hardened steel bearings mounted in SAE 1020 steel cartridges, five analyses were carried out to investigate how load, frequency, amplitude, and presence of a grease influence the extent of fretting corrosion at the interface.