An apparatus with different contact pad gripping rigidity was designed on the basis of single clamp fretting fatigue apparatus. The mechanical models of two apparatuses were developed. By the investigation of the experimental results and numerical analysis

the effect of contact pad gripping rigidity on fretting fatigue damage was discussed. Results indicate that

with the decrease of the contact pad gripping rigidity

the maximum SWT(SmithWatsonTopper) fatigue parameter value remains almost the same and tends to have a symmetrical distribution over contact interface. As a result

the relative slip amplitude and fretting wear decrease correspondingly; the smaller contact pad gripping rigidity of the apparatus means the longer fretting fatigue life.