A simplified non-linear kinematic hardening model for ratchetting and wear assessment in rolling contact

A model for plasticity assessment in rolling contact is introduced, aimed at simulating the effect of the application of thousands of load cycles in a reasonable time. It is based on the non-linear kinematic and isotropic hardening model of Lemaitre and Chaboche in a simplified formulation suitable for contact problems and allows the calculation of accumulated plastic strain under the contact surface. Wear is introduced as an independent phenomenon, interacting with the plasticization process by removing material layers from the surface and modifying during the load process the stresses which each point is subjected to. The typical material responses to cyclic loading (elastic shakedown, plastic shakedown, and ratchetting) can be obtained by application of the present method; moreover, the effect of wear in stabilizing the strain field for a large number of cycles is shown. The model is validated through comparison with results obtained by other methods and by experiments.