Experiments have been carried out on a relatively simple journal bearing rig to test the theory that extra load-carrying capacity is generated the elasticity of viscoelastic lubricants. Model lubricants were used. The viscoelastic lubricants were solutions of high-molecular-weight polyisobutene in low-molecular-weight polyisobutene while the inelastic lubricant was low-molecular-weight polyisobutene. The extra load-carrying capacity has been established. An analysis of the detailed results strongly indicates that the extra benefit of elasticity is much greater than that predicted by existing theory.
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Hutton et al. (1986) studied this question.
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