Elliptic flow in heavy-ion collisions at incident energies $E_{lab}simeq$ (1--160)A GeV is analyzed within the model of 3-fluid dynamics (3FD). We show that a simple correction factor, taking into account dissipative affects, allows us to adjust the
3FD results to experimental data. This single-parameter fit results in a good reproduction of the elliptic flow as a function of the incident energy, centrality of the collision and rapidity. The experimental scaling of pion eccentricity-scaled elliptic flow versus charged-hadron-multiplicity density per unit transverse area turns out to be also reasonably described. Proceeding from values of the Knudsen number, deduced from this fit, we estimate the upper limit the shear viscosity-to-entropy ratio as $eta/s sim 1-2$ at the SPS incident energies. This value is of the order of minimal $eta/s$ observed in water and liquid nitrogen.
A finite unbound system which is equilibrium in one reference frame is in general nonequilibrium in another frame. This is a consequence of the relative character of the time synchronization in the relativistic physics. This puzzle was a prime motiva
tion of the Cooper--Frye approach to the freeze-out in relativistic hydrodynamics. Solution of the puzzle reveals that the Cooper--Frye recipe is far not a unique phenomenological method that meets requirements of energy-momentum conservation. Alternative freeze-out recipes are considered and discussed.
Transverse-mass spectra of protons, pions and kaons produced in collisions of heavy nuclei are analyzed within the model of 3-fluid dynamics. It was demonstrated that this model consistently reproduces these spectra in wide ranges of incident energie
s E_{lab}, from 4A GeV to 160A GeV, rapidity bins and centralities of the collisions. In particular, the model describes the step-like dependence of kaon inverse slopes on the incident energy. The key point of this explanation is interplay of hydrodynamic expansion of the system with its dynamical freeze-out.
