AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE FLOW OF AN ELECTRORHEOLOGICAL FLUID IN A RAYLEIGH STEP BEARING

The transport properties of unexcited and excited electro-rheological (ER) fluid in combined Couette and Poiseuille flow are investigated. I n particular the question of whether the fluid can be considered as a continuum with Bingham plastic constitutive properties, even though it is a two-phase solid-liquid mixture, is addressed. The hydrodynamic p ressures generated using ER fluid in a Rayleigh step bearing at the li miting condition of zero net flow rate were measured. The properties e xhibited by the fluid are compared with independently obtained data sh owing the continuum principle to be applicable to the flows examined.