Papers by Author: Takashi Honda

Abstract: The life of the PTFE thrust bearing under rolling contact fatigue (RCF) was investigated. The different conditions of axial loads and the rotating speeds under water were applied. The shapes of the bearing race before and after the tests were measured by a two-dimensional shape measurement sensor. The wear loss of PTFE bearing was rarely generated and the shape of the bearing changed slightly in the test. However, it was found that the lifetime of PTFE bearing depended on the temperature generated in the contact surface. In our testing machine condition, the bearing was collapsed over a load of 1600 N.

Abstract: The polymer bearings have been widely used in recent years. In this study, ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMWPE) is investigated. In order to investigate the relation between the lives, loads and rotation speeds, rolling contact fatigue tests were conducted. It was found that rotation speed related to the bearing life and wear loss.

Abstract: A newly developed single-ball RCF testing machine was used in order to investigate crack initiation direction within SUJ2. From empirical data, it was found that the distribution of crack initiation direction at N = 1.0x106 cycles is very close to that at N = 1.0x107. This means that the cracks that do not cause failure stop growing by 1.0x106 cycles. Some cracks however continue to grow towards the surface, at an angle of 135 degrees.

Abstract: Martensitic high-carbon high-strength SAE 52100 bearing steel has been widely used as the main alloys for rolling contact applications, and also at the components under bending and tension-compression. In order to enhance the material’s strength, refining the prior austenite grain size through repeated heating has been investigated. In this work, the microstructure of repeatedly quenched-tempered Ti, N-rich SAE 52100 steel was investigated. The material was melted by an electric furnace and formed by continuous casting and forging, and the crack origin on the fracture surface was investigated. It was found that repeated furnace quenching and tempering effectively refined the martenstic structure.

Abstract: Martensitic high carbon high strength SAE 52100 bearing steel is one of the main alloys used for rolling contact applications where high wear resistance are required. Due to its high fatigue strength, SAE 52100 is recently being used not only for the production of bearings but also shafts. Refining of prior austenite grain through repeated quenching is a procedure that can be used to enhance the material’s strength. In this work, the microstructure of repeatedly quenched SAE 52100 steel and its fatigue strength under rotating bending were investigated. It was found that repeated furnace heating and quenching effectively refined the martensitic structure and increased the retained austenite content. Repeated quenching was found to improve the fatigue strength of SAE 52100.

Abstract: The influence of surface oxidizing using a Q-sw laser on the wear loss of titanium-4Al-6V (Ti64) alloy during rolling contact fatigue is investigated. Titanium components are widely appreciated for their superb biocompatibility, high strength to weight ratio and corrosion resistance. Due to the above mentioned advantages titanium bearings are a popular choice in applications requiring high strength, light weight, and minimum maintenance (for example, aerospace and defence industries). In these rolling contact applications however issues such as fretting and wear related problems are a common occurrence as the tribological properties of titanium alloys are inferior to those of other metal alloys, such as steel. In an attempt to tackle this problem, a Q-sw laser was used in this work to coat Ti64 bearings with complex titanium oxide layers in a closed chamber without any protective gas. Non-coated and coated samples were tested under water by using a thrust-type rolling contact fatigue machine. The morphology and crystallographic texture of the layers were observed by laser confocal microscope, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. The wear loss of the coated samples was at least fifty-fold lower than that of the non-coated bearings and a 3-fold increase in the maximum load capacity compared with TiN layers was achieved.

Abstract: Fatigue failure of steel occurs when cracks form in a component and continue to grow to a size large enough to cause rupture. In order to understand the crack initiation and propagation phenomena, non-destructive evaluation methods that can be correlated to in-situ measurements around the crack tips are necessary. In the present work, we developed a scanning Hall probe microscope (SHPM) equipped in a GaAs film sensor to observe fatigue cracks at room temperature in air while they were growing. Medium carbon low alloy steels specimens (JIS S45C) were used in the experiments. Only the area around the crack tip was magnetized and the changes at the crack tips were observed.

Abstract: Radial ball bearings made of metal, ceramics and plastics are commonly used as important components in industrial machinery. Usage of high performance engineering plastic polymers is increasing progressively as a replacement for metal components due to the latest markets demands. Poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) is a promising material for precision-machined custom bearings, products that are expected to suit special market needs. In the present study, PEEK radial ball bearings were manufactured by lathe machining under different parameters and their rolling contact fatigue (RCF) resistance under water lubricated conditions was investigated. We observed the surface of the bearings prior and after testing by laser confocal microscope. The wear loss was measured by weighing the bearings before and after test. Cracks and/or flaking failures were identified on the bearing surface after testing. From the RCF tests results, we found that, at water lubricated conditions, crack initiation occurred later in the material that was machined at slower feed rate while at dry condition, the feed rate had little influence on the wear loss and cracking. Wear loss in the case of bearings tested under water was much less severe than that of bearings tested at dry conditions.

Abstract: Martensitic high carbon high strength SAE 52100 bearing steel is one of the main alloys used for rolling contact applications when high wear and fatigue resistance are required. Refining the microstructure of steel improves its mechanical properties (e.g. toughness). In this work SAE 52100 specimens were exposed to repeated induction heating process and rotation bending tests were performed using single- and repeatedly heat-treated material in order to investigate the influence of this cyclic heat treatment on the mechanical properties of SAE 52100. In an attempt to determine the effect of the repeated induction heating and quenching on the material, we focused our observations on the internal fatigue “fisheye" cracks. It was noted that crack propagation was successfully halted by the refined microstructure in heat affected zone, therefore it can be concluded that repeated induction heating and quenching processes help to slow down the propagation of fisheye cracks in SAE52100 steel bars.

Abstract: Fatigue failure of steel occurs when cracks form and grow in the material’s stress concentration area. In order to understand the relation between stress concentration and crack propagation phenomena, non-destructive evaluation methods that can be related to in-situ measurements around the stress concentration area are necessary. In the present work, we developed a scanning Hall probe microscope (SHPM) equipped in a GaAs film sensor and observed three dimensional magnetic fields at room temperature in air. Medium carbon low alloy steels specimens (JIS, S45C) were used in the experiments. Only the area around the artificial slit had been magnetized and the effect of the magnetization area on the artificial slit was observed.