The initiation of fatigue cracks in A 0.7% carbon steel by fretting

Abstract The origin of fatigue cracks in fretting fatigue is the boundary between the slip and non-slip areas in the contact region. They arise at this boundary because of the high stress concentration. When a crack is formed it relieves the stress concentration at this point, and the boundary between the slip and non-slip areas moves inwards, resulting in the initiation of another crack which propagates more rapidly than the first crack because of the higher stress concentration. Crack formation can be prevented or retarded by ensuring that slip occurs over the entire contact region.