The effects of kinematic sliding on rolling contact fatigue life have been discussed in many occasions, often with some disregard of the fundamental principles of tribology. In this paper, the authors’ intention is to discuss this issue with a perspective as objective as possible and performing a study on factual and known scientific knowledge, applying tribology modelling and methods. The effects of kinematic sliding of Hertzian contacts are studied from three different standpoints: (1) by analysing the combination of sliding speed and contact pressure giving rise to seizure, that is high instantaneous contact temperatures leading to film collapse, (2) by assessing the possible effects of sliding to surface traction and fatigue, (3) by discussing other possible effects of sliding in heavily loaded lubricated contacts as the concurrent damage mechanism caused by wear and rolling contact fatigue. Throughout the paper, different numerical models are presented and discussed alongside with some experimental data. This approach provides a comprehensive assessment of the various phenomena related to the kinematic sliding of rolling bearings. The different mechanisms involved and the interaction of sliding with the elastohydrodynamic lubricant film, frictional stress, wear and fatigue are discussed, and their significance to the performance of the bearing is qualified.
