Finite Element Simulation of Bending Fretting and Fatigue Life Prediction for 316L Stainless Steel Component

The bending fretting process of 316L stainless steel component was simulated by ABAQUS finite element software. The Smith-Watson-Topper (SWT) multiaxial fatigue criterion was applied to predicting bending fretting crack initiation locations and component lifetimes. The 3D simulation results show that the contact pressure stress distribution along the flat width direction on the upper surface of the contact center presented the tendency that the edge value was larger and the central value was small, and the maximum was given near the edge but not at the edge. With the increase of bending load the maximum marginal contact pressure stress increased, while the central pressure stress reduced to zero. That means when the bending load increased, the warping phenomenon would be more severe. The fretting fatigue crack initiated from the subsurface, about 93 μm under the contact surface. The fatigue life prediction results of the SWT parameters were in agreement with experimental results.