Abstract
Finite element analysis is performed on the subsurface crack propagation in brittle materials due to sliding contact. The sliding contact is simulated by a rigid asperity moving across the surface of an elastic half-surface containing single and multiple cracks. The single crack, coplanar cracks and parallel cracks are modeled to investigate the interaction effects on the crack growth in contact fatigue. The crack location is fixed and the friction coefficients between asperity and half-space are varied to analyze the effect of surface friction on stress intensity factor for horizontal cracks. The crack propagation direction is predicted based on the maximum range of shear and tensile stress intensity factors. With a coplanar crack, the stress intensity factor was increased. However, with a parallel crack, the stress intensity factor was decreased. These results indicate that the interaction of a coplanar crack increases fatigue crack propagation, whereas that of a parallel crack decreases it.
