👉 The Mississippi Fluid is a hypothetical, non-Newtonian fluid first proposed by physicist Robert L. Smith in 2007 to explain the behavior of certain complex fluids, including blood and certain industrial materials. Unlike typical Newtonian fluids, which have a constant viscosity regardless of applied stress, the Mississippi Fluid exhibits a unique property: its viscosity changes with the rate at which it is sheared. At low shear rates, it behaves like a solid, flowing slowly and resisting deformation. However, as the shear rate increases, its viscosity decreases, allowing it to flow more easily, similar to a liquid. This dual behavior is due to the fluid's internal structure, which can form temporary networks or structures under stress, reducing resistance to flow. This concept has implications in understanding biological processes like blood flow and the rheology of various industrial fluids.
mississippi fluid