On the Rheology of a Traction Fluid

Results are presented of pressure-shear plate impact experiments performed on a traction fluid. The overall behavior of this material appears to be very similar to that of elastohydrodynamic (EHD) lubricants such as 5P4E: the material exhibits a saturation of the flow stress with strain rate, and a nearly linear dependence of the critical shear stress on the applied pressure. The plate impact results are compared with those of other workers using completely different experimental techniques and operating at lower strain rates and much lower pressures. The results obtained from the various techniques are in general agreement.