Tidal shear energy dissipation rate for very eccentric binary systems as a function of orbital phase measured from periastron passage. Ė is in erg s^-1 and ρ in g cm^-3. Shown in this figure are two cases with e = 0.8 (P = 15 and 350 days) and a case for δ Sco. Note that peristron passage is always associated with a very large time variation of Ė.