Isfahan University of Technology Journal of Computational Methods in Engineering 2228-7698 45 1 2026 05 22 Rolling Contact Fatigue Analysis of Bearings in the Presence of Oil Lubrication Considering the Effect of Pitting Rolling Contact Fatigue Analysis of Bearings in the Presence of Oil Lubrication Considering the Effect of Pitting 181 201 3774 10.47176/jcme.45.1.1079 FA Zahra Isavi Department of Mechanical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 8415683111, Iran Hamid Shakerin Isfahan Shakerin Gearbox CO, Isfahan, 8161195117, Iran Saleh Akbarzadeh Department of Mechanical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 8415683111, Iran Journal Article 2026 02 28 <span>Abstract: Rolling contact fatigue is one of the most common failure mechanisms in bearings, manifesting as surface and subsurface cracks that ultimately lead to pitting. This failure, resulting from repeated stresses in the contact region between the rolling element and the raceway, can severely affect system performance, making its accurate prediction essential from a design and durability perspective. In this study, in order to achieve a more accurate estimation of fatigue life associated with pitting, the actual contact friction coefficient is first determined based on reliable experimental data, and then the Hertzian surface and subsurface stresses are calculated. The analyses indicate that the maximum subsurface shear stress plays a decisive role in the initiation of cracks associated with pitting. Subsequently, three fatigue models‚ the continuum damage mechanics model, the Ioannides–Harris empirical model, and the Zaretsky statistical model are implemented and compared. The results show that the continuum damage mechanics model provides higher accuracy under high load conditions, the Zaretsky model yields predictions close to experimental data, and the Ioannides–Harris model exhibits more conservative behavior in certain stress ranges due to the presence of a fatigue limit. The discrepancies among these predictions highlight the importance of selecting an appropriate fatigue model and the role of the fatigue threshold in life assessment. The findings of this research, by offering a simple yet accurate framework, can be applied to the design and performance improvement of industrial bearings.</span> <span>Abstract: Rolling contact fatigue is one of the most common failure mechanisms in bearings, manifesting as surface and subsurface cracks that ultimately lead to pitting. This failure, resulting from repeated stresses in the contact region between the rolling element and the raceway, can severely affect system performance, making its accurate prediction essential from a design and durability perspective. In this study, in order to achieve a more accurate estimation of fatigue life associated with pitting, the actual contact friction coefficient is first determined based on reliable experimental data, and then the Hertzian surface and subsurface stresses are calculated. The analyses indicate that the maximum subsurface shear stress plays a decisive role in the initiation of cracks associated with pitting. Subsequently, three fatigue models‚ the continuum damage mechanics model, the Ioannides–Harris empirical model, and the Zaretsky statistical model are implemented and compared. The results show that the continuum damage mechanics model provides higher accuracy under high load conditions, the Zaretsky model yields predictions close to experimental data, and the Ioannides–Harris model exhibits more conservative behavior in certain stress ranges due to the presence of a fatigue limit. The discrepancies among these predictions highlight the importance of selecting an appropriate fatigue model and the role of the fatigue threshold in life assessment. The findings of this research, by offering a simple yet accurate framework, can be applied to the design and performance improvement of industrial bearings.</span> https://jcme.iut.ac.ir/article_3774_73f104c9fba50050eea11d9d075247cc.pdf