A dimensionless number, De, used to classify the rheological behaviour of a fluid, which is able to elastically store energy. It is defined as the ratio of the fluid characteristic time to the process or observed time, where the characteristic time is the stress relaxation time, τ:
Values of De that approach zero indicate liquid behaviour, while values that approach infinity have solid-like behaviour. It was coined by Israeli scientist Markus Reiner (1886–1976) from the Bible (Judges 5:5) as ‘The mountains melted from before the Lord . . . ’ .