Status of understanding for bearing materials

Technical Report · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6196171

Bamberger, E N

The structural materials and potential failure modes for high technology aircraft gas turbine bearings are reviewed. Among the failure modes discussed for iron-base through-hardened bearing materials are fatigue, surface distress, and corrosion. It is shown that the sub-surface initiated rolling-contact fatigue failure mode is reasonably well understood and in most cases can be controlled by proper material selection and design. Current bearing materials provide long life and high reliability in existing applications. A new generation of materials are being developed which will provide improved fracture toughness, better corrosion resistance, and a further extension of bearing fatigue life. Bearing problems due to surface distress, caused by a variety of surface and near surface anomalies, are less well understood. This area will require the implementation of an interdisciplinary effort to improve the level of understanding of metallic surface-lubricant reactions and interactions.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6196171
• Report Number(s): N-84-25060
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420200* -- Engineering-- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques
ALLOYS
BEARINGS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CORROSION
CRACK PROPAGATION
ENGINES
FAILURES
GAS TURBINE ENGINES
HEAT ENGINES
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MATERIALS
STEELS
STRESS INTENSITY FACTORS
TRIBOLOGY
TURBOJET ENGINES