A　skid　damage　test　rig　was　developed　to　simulate　the　dynamic　contact　between　bearing　ring　and　roller,　to　reveal　the　reason　why　the　skid　damage　of　roller　bearing　sometimes　occurs　and/or　sometimes　does　not　under　high-speed　and　light-load　condition　at　the　same　slip　rate.　The　mechanism　of　skid　damage　to　a　roller　bearing　was　examined　by　changing　experimental　conditions　such　as　the　surface　topography,　slip,　inner　ring　speed,　radial　load　and　lubrication.　An　orthogonal　experiment　design　was　used,　and　the　results　showed　that　the　slip　affected　the　temperature　rise　the　most　followed　by　the　radial　load,　lubrication　and　inner　ring　speed.　The　relationship　between　the　temperature　rise　and　skid　damage　was　examined;　skid　damage　occurred　when　the　temperature　increased　rapidly　and　continually,　and　non-skid　damage　occurred　when　the　temperature　remained　constant　or　increased　very　slowly.　The　temperature　varied　directly　with　the　inner　ring　speed.　Skid　damage　is　mostly　thermal　failure　where　metal-to-metal　contact　occurs　in　the　contact　area　of　the　bearing　ring　and　roller　after　the　oil　film　is　broken;　this　can　result　in　a　sharp　temperature　rise　and　material　transfer,　and　the　damage　can　quickly　extend　to　the　whole　contact　area.　The　preliminary　test　result　showed　that　the　unbalanced　loading　and　muddy　oil　lubrication　are　prone　to　accelerate　the　damage　process　and　intensify　the　degree　of　skid　damage.