A multiaxial fretting fatigue test for spline coupling contact

A novel fretting fatigue experimental methodology is presented for mimicking the salient fretting variables for arbitrary axial locations within a complex spline coupling geometry, under combined torque, axial loading and rotating bending moment. The approach permits the simulation, in a simplified test arrangement, of the superimposed multiaxial fretting conditions between the spline teeth. This is achieved via the combination of a low frequency in-plane cyclic normal clamping load and a higher frequency out-of-plane cyclic fatigue stress. The latter is known from spline fatigue tests to play a critical role, along with torque and axial loads, in fretting fatigue cracking of splines.