The result of which has been an improved service factor for rolling element thrust bearings over the years. However, further development should concentrate on areas, other than rolling contact fatigue, that might get us closer to the theoretical life. This requirement further specifies an L 10 fatigue life of 25,000 hr and a light preload. These specification clauses can be traced back to the fact that higher angular contact ball bearings tend to predict larger theoretical thrust capacities. Numerous failures with these theoretically stronger bearings prompted a fundamental reassessment of this philosophy.
Fatigue is only one of many failure mechanisms.
Therefore, other contributing factors must be examined. These include internal dynamics of rolling elements, lubrication, installation, and machine operating parameters.