Abstract
An examination of the capability of an energised electro-rheological fluid to act as a rotating shaft seal is reported. A two-dimensional laminar flow model based on a Bingham plastic flowing between parallel plate electrodes indicated that leakage would always occur whenever the shaft was in rotation, whatever the magnitude of the pressure gradient along the sealing annulus. This result was confirmed in experiments, the results of which show some discrepancy between theory and experiment in the magnitude of the leakage rate. However this error is accountable and is acceptable in the area of immediate interest-shaft speed of circa 1000/1500 rpm and at maximum yield or electro-stress.
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