viscosity | Energy Glossary

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viscosity

1. n. []

A property of fluids and slurries that indicates their resistance to flow, defined as the ratio of shear stress to shear rate.

Poise is the unit for viscosity, equivalent to dyne-sec/cm2. Because one poise represents a high viscosity, 1/100 poise, or one centipoise (cP), is used for mud measurements. One centipoise equals one millipascal-second. Viscosity must have a stated or an understood shear rate  to be meaningful. Measurement temperature also must be stated or understood.

See related terms: bentoniteBingham plastic modelbreakerBrookfield viscometercapillary tube viscometercarboxymethylcellulosecentipoisederrickmandirect-indicating viscometerfunnel viscositygel strengthgyp mudHerschel–Bulkley fluidhigh-pressure, high-temperature viscometerMarsh funnelmud additiveNewtonian fluidnon-Newtonian fluidpillplastic fluidpower-law fluidpseudoplasticPVTrheological propertyrheologyshear rateshear stressVG meteryield

Viscosity.