A laboratory viscometer—gelation timer

During the past two decades, the information explosion has led to a demand for systems of storing and retrieving information in every branch of science and technology. A number of the larger abstracting services are already experimenting with systems covering so great an area that the use of a computer is essential.Since, however, the, field of rheology is relatively small a simple classification and retrieval system is being developed, for use inRheology Abstracts, based upon ordinary 132-hole edge-punched cards. The first half of the system deals with the rheology of fluids and is already in use; it is described in detail in a recent paper (1). The second half, dealing with the rheology of solids, is still being developed.In the fluids system, holes are punched to indicate the following essential features of a paper: general nature; language; type of fluid; rheological properties; type of flow; boundary conditions; important variables and effects; theoretical treatment; type of apparatus; industrial processes involved. As a result two simple hand operations will serve to retrieve, for example, all the papers concerned with turbulent flow of suspensions, or with fracture in polymer melts. Additional operations lead to a narrower, more precise, retrieval.At present the classifying is being done by abstractors. It is hoped that authors will become familiar with the system and will make a practice of classifying their own papers; this would lead to more accurate classification and to the benefit of all concerned.Paper presented at the Conference on Experimental Rheology, University of Bradford, April 17–19, 1968.