The 50CrVA disc spring used in a platform ballast system cracked during service.In order to find out the reason,the macroscopic inspection,chemical composition analysis,microstructure inspection,mechanical property inspection and fracture morphology observation were conducted on cracked and un-cracked disc spring,respectively.The results showed that the chemical composition,surface quality and mechanical properties of cracked and uncracked disc springs met the standard requirements,the microstruc-ture was tempered troostite.There was a partial decarburization layer at the junction between the inner coni-cal surface and the inner circular surface of cracked disc springs,and no decarburization phenomenon was found in the uncracked disc springs.The fracture surface of cracked disc spring had typical fatigue fracture characteristics.