Abstract: Using a custom-made optical interferometry system for measuring thin lubricating films, the elastohydrodynamic lubrication film thickness and shapes generated by a steel ball-on-glass disc contact under spinning/sliding conditions are studied. Different spinning levels are obtained by adopting a new technique, i.e., adjusting the distance between the contact center and the disc rotation axis. Experimental results show that spinning can induce lower film thickness and the symmetry of the classical horse-shoe film shape gets lost about the entrainment center line. When the entrainment speed increases, the film thickness increases, and the symmetry of the film shapes is enhanced. With increased loads, the film thickness decreases, and the asymmetry of film shape is enhanced. With increased eccentricity, the whole film thickness increases, the difference of film thicknesses on the two sides decreases, and the symmetry of film shape is enhanced.

Key words: Elastohydrodynamic lubrication, Optical interferometry, Spinning