This study concerns the photoelastic analysis of dry contact between a cylinder and a plane under combined loading. Both static and dynamic cases are experimentally dealt with. A test rig is specially designed to collect essential data within and in the vicinity of the contact area. Data obtained have been analysed to estimate the contact area, normal and tangential stress distributions, coefficient of friction and the position of maximum shear through the contact. Results are compared with theoretical and experimental values(previously published) by other authors. The comparison of dynamic with static experimental results clarifies the angle of assymmetry of maximum shear stress fringes corresponding to the angle of friction.