Elastic–plastic characterization of a high strength bainitic roller bearing steel—experiments and modelling

Monotonic and cyclic deformations were studied for a high strength bainitic roller bearing steel. The temperature of 75 °C corresponded to normal roller bearing conditions. The materials showed hydrostatic influence on yielding, but no or marginal influence of plastic deformation on density change. Therefore, a linear elastic constitutive model with pressure dependent yielding, non-associated flow rule, combined non-linear kinematic and isotropic hardening was necessary to characterize the cyclic behaviour. A stepwise process is detailed for determining the material parameters of the pressure dependent model, where particular attention was placed on the hardening parameters. One set of parameters was sufficient to describe all tested load ranges including compressive ratchetting. Some comparative tests were performed at room temperature, 150 °C and on martensitic specimens at 75 °C. The temperature influence was limited to the isotropic hardening parameters.