LAUSR

This paper describes an experimental setup that allows the observations of the stress distribution under soft elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) in line contact by means of photoelasticity. This experimental method is rarely used in the EHL field. The photoelastic fringe patterns in the circular polarization are collected under different rolling speeds and loads. Numerical calculations are carried out to analyze the oil film thickness, pressure, and shear stress distribution. Compared with those results, numerical and experimental stress distribution are basically consistent. Some beneficial conclusions are obtained. These are helpful to investigate further the oil pressure distribution and directly observe the stress distribution under lubrication conditions through experiment method.