Using the optical interferometry technique, transient behaviour of grease films at an elastrohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) point contact caused by a transversely oriented groove and long bump passing through the contact area is directly observed with three different types of diurea grease without additives. The effects of the thickener content on the grease film formation are also examined. It has been found that the behaviour of EHL films depends strongly on the thickener structure, and the effects of surface defects on EHL films become pronounced as the film thickness decreases. It has also been found that the thickener lumps move through the EHL conjunction while repeating attachment to the surfaces and detachment from them, and the thickener lumps deposited on the surfaces affect the film behaviour as a kind of solid bump.
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