EHL with Grease at Low Speeds

Film thickness of grease in rolling contact is determined by ultrathin-film optical interferometry, where increase in thickness is found at low speeds having the thickness depending on both base oils and thickeners. A characteristic horse shoe observed at low speeds shows the film is formed mainly by EHL effect. Analysis employing the Carreau-Yasuda viscosity equation is made based on the rheology of grease to describe the feature of the change in the EHL film thickness.