Study of Electrical Resistance Method for Lubrication Condition Monitoring of Oil and Grease Lubricated Point Contacts

The relation among contact resistance, film thickness, and friction was explored at different entrainment velocities. Results show that the developed contact resistance method can effectively reflect the lubrication regimes of the contact zone, as well as the dynamic evolution of lubrication status. Subsequently, the developed electrical resistance method was applied to the condition monitoring of grease lubricated point contacts.

In the process of continuous monitoring of the evolution of the electrical signal over time, the lubrication regime of grease lubrication varies, and the critical point of parched lubrication and the rupture of the lubricating film were effectively captured. The experimental results of both oil and grease preliminarily verified the reliability of the developed electrical resistance method, which can provide a solution for the lubrication condition monitoring of mechanical systems (such as bearings and gears) in engineering by taking essential insulation measures.