Incorporation　of　electrorheological　(ER)　fluid　properties　within　a　general,　but　comprehensive　design　procedure　is　initiated　by　the　adoption　of　a　Bingham　power　law　constitutive　law　into　a　computational　fluid　dynamic　(CFD)　analysis.　CFD　results　are　presented　for　the　analysis　of　the　complex　flow　of　an　electrorheological　fluid　in　a　radial　shear　clutch　device　under　the　influence　of　electric　field.　In　such　a　device　the　fluid　is　sheared　between　a　driven　(rotating)　and　a　parallel　stationary　shear　plate.　The　ER　fluid　is　modeled　using　a　technique　which　can　be　employed　for　any　fluid/field　characterization.　It　is　shown　that　the　initial　flow　rate　induced　cooling　cannot　be　maintained　when　a　substantial　field　is　applied　and　the　clutch　plates　continue　to　slip.　©　2010　The　Author(s).