부산대학교 도서관

This paper reviews, from both a technical and a historical perspective, the results of research conducted using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration five-ball fatigue tester. The test rig was conceived by W. J. Anderson in late 1958. The first data were generated in March 1959. Since then a total of approximately 500 000 test hours have been accumulated on a group of eight test rigs which are capable of running 24 h a day, 7 days a week. Studies have been conducted to determine the effect on rolling element fatigue life of contact angle, material hardness, chemistry, heat treatment and processing, lubricant type and chemistry, elastohydrodynamic film thickness, deformation and wear, vacuum, and temperature, as well as hertzian and residual stresses. A correlation was established between the results obtained using the five-ball tester and those obtained with full-scale rolling element bearings.