Takafumi NAGATOMO, Yasuo SATOH
We measured the depth distribution of Leaky Surface Acoustic Wave (LSAW) velocity using a Scanning Acoustic Microscope (SAM), for several bearing inner rings tested for various revolution times, in order to evaluate the rolling contact fatigue of rolling bearing. Both the residual stress and half-value width of their inner rings were measured by the X-ray diffraction method, for comparison with the measurements of LSAW velocity. The dependence of rolling contact fatigue on the revolution time was observed in the distribution of LSAW velocity under this test condition, though it was not recognized in the distribution of either X-ray parameter. We confirmed that the SAM is an effective tool to evaluate the degree of rolling contact fatigue of bearing.