Keywords

Rolling Contact Fatigue, Residual Stresses, Gears, Gas Nitriding

Influence of Gas Nitriding on Rolling Contact Fatigue - Application on Alloyed Steels for Gears

Geartooth are subjected to rolling contact fatigue (RCF) characterized by damages known as micropitting and pitting. Enhancement of mechanical properties of the near surface can increase fatigue endurance. Gas nitriding on alloyed steels is more and more used by the gear manufacturers, since not only this treatment hardens the superficial layers, but it also induces compressive residual stresses known for their benefits on fatigue resistance. However, the material and mechanical properties of the nitrided layer are not well controlled and specified. Moreover, the RCF mechanisms on nitrided steels are not yet clearly understood. Thus, this study introduces experiments on a twin-disc machine. Material and mechanical properties of the nitrided layer have been investigated to fully understand the tribological scenarios. Revealing how the nitriding layer impacts the gear RCF behavior may help the manufacturers to define the appropriate nitriding process in the future.

Authors and Company/Institution

M. Le, F. Ville and J. Cavoret, LaMCoS-INSA Lyon, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
X. Kleber, MATEIS – INSA Lyon, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
L. Briançon, DCNS Research, La Montagne, France
M.-C. Sainte Catherine, DGA, France