In some practical applications such as spline couplings or constant velocity joints, the machine components are subjected to a low amplitude lateral motion, very often oscillatory, so that conditions for a full elastohydrodynamic film to form are not completely realized. The questions that arise are what mechanism of lubricating takes place in such contacts and what is the influence of working parameters and lubricant properties on such mechanism? In the present study, a EHD contact formed between a flat and a ball is subjected to oscillatory-motion of amplitude ranging between one half to one contact diameter. High speed ultra-thin film interferometry is used to monitor the gap between the two solid surfaces. The influence of parameters such as load, frequency and amplitude of motion are investigated.

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