Influence of MnS inclusion characteristics on generation of white etching cracks in 100Cr6 bearing steel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

Authors

  • Lutz Morsdorf
  • Ivan Gonzalez
  • Michael Kölling
  • Christian Broß
  • Dirk Ponge
  • Michael Herbig
  • David Mayweg

External Organisational units

  • Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH
  • Chalmers University of Technology

Abstract

Wind turbine gearbox (WTGB) bearings suffer from premature failures through white etching cracks (WECs). To investigate causes of this failure mechanism, we tested two types of 100Cr6 bearing steel components. We carried out rolling contact fatigue experiments on standard washers and material extracted from a WTGB bearing. These differed strongly in morphology and orientation of non-metallic inclusions (NMIs) with respect to the raceway, especially of MnS-type. While the standard washer did not exhibit WECs formation, the WTGB bearing did - even under moderate conditions (1.9 GPa Hertzian pressure, 10 7 cycles). We therefore conclude that MnS-inclusions are a key factor in initiation of WECs in WTGB bearings.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number205129
Number of pages16
JournalWear
Volume534-535.2023
Issue number15 December
Early online date22 Sept 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Dec 2023