Shear rate is a measure of how quickly adjacent layers of fluid move relative to each other, typically expressed in reciprocal seconds (s^-1). It plays a crucial role in understanding the flow behavior of fluids, especially when examining how viscosity changes with different rates of shear. In the context of constitutive equations and Newtonian fluids, shear rate is essential for relating stress to strain rate, providing insight into the mechanical properties of materials.
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