In order to explore the starvedoil elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) mechanism of multipoint contacts,a model for calculating the film thickness under different lubrication states was established based on the balance of oil replenishment and extrusion in the contact area of ball and raceway.It can calculate the center film thickness and the decrease of film thickness with the number of rolling times from fully flooded,starved and parched lubrication.The selfmade ballondisc light interference EHL test rig was used to simultaneously acquire the oil film images of the adjacent balls by installing the double lens barrel.The effects of the track of the previous ball on the oil film image and center film thickness of the following ball were studied under the adjacent orbits coincide or do not coincide.The results show that under the starvedoil lubrication condition,the tracks can complement oil each other when the orbits of the previous ball and the latter ball do not coincide.When the orbits of the adjacent balls coincide,under the given oil supply conditions,as the rolling velocity increases,the inlet meniscus gradually approaches the contact area and the center film thickness is increased.The result of film thickness is consistent with that calculated by the starvedoil lubrication model under the same working conditions,which verifies the correctness of the model