Surface tension driven convection

In a normal gravitational environment, the free surface of a liquid in a container plays a passive role in the transport processes. However, at microgravity, the free surface can become the dominant factor. A simple but meaningful spaceflight experiment is proposed to investigate the nature and extent of flows induced by surface-tension gradients along the free surface. The influences of container geometry, wetability, contamination, and imposed heating modes will be investigated

A critical evaluation of the status and trends in high speed fluid film lubrication

High speed fluid film lubricatio

Laminar flows in porous elastic channels

Laminar flows of viscous fluids in porous elastic channel

The Kelvin-Helmholtz instability with arbitrarily oriented body force

Interfacial stability of two parallel superposed inviscid streams of fluid applied to stability of molten liquid-gas interface on ablating reentry bod

Body rotation effects on melting ablation

Rotation effects on melting ablation on reentry of axisymmetric bodie

Fluid mechanics of continuous flow electrophoresis

The following aspects of continuous flow electrophoresis were studied: (1) flow and temperature fields; (2) hydrodynamic stability; (3) separation efficiency, and (4) characteristics of wide gap chambers (the SPAR apparatus). Simplified mathematical models were developed so as to furnish a basis for understanding the phenomena and comparison of different chambers and operating conditions. Studies of the hydrodynamic stability disclosed that a wide gap chamber may be particularly sensitive to axial temperature variations which could be due to uneven heating or cooling. The mathematical model of the separation process includes effects due to the axial velocity, electro-osmotic cross flow and electrophoretic migration, all including the effects of temperature dependent properties

Film-stability in a vertical rotating tube with a core-gas flow

Linear hydrodynamic stability of interface between Newtonian liquid film and core fluid under influence of swirl, core flow, and gravit

Surface Tension Driven Convection Experiment (STDCE)

This document reports the results obtained from the Surface Tension Driven Convection Experiment (STDCE) conducted aboard the USML-1 Spacelab in 1992. The experiments used 10 cSt silicone oil placed in an open circular container that was 10 cm wide and 5 cm deep. Thermocapillary flow was induced by using either a cylindrical heater placed along the container centerline or by a CO2 laser. The tests were conducted under various power settings, laser beam diameters, and free surface shapes. Thermistors located at various positions in the test section recorded the temperature of the fluid, heater, walls, and air. An infrared imager was used to measure the free surface temperature. The flow field was studied by flow visualization and the data was analyzed by a PTV technique. The results from the flow visualization and the temperature measurements are compared with the numerical analysis that was conducted in conjunction with the experiment. The compared results include the experimental and numerical velocity vector plots, the streamline plots, the fluid temperature, and the surface temperature distribution

An experimental study of melting wave behavior

Suspension of flat plate in parallel heated air stream - ablation and melting wave behavio

Characterization of Lunar Farside Plains

The Moon contains broad and isolated areas of plains that have been recognized as mare, cryptomare, impact ejecta, or impact melt. These deposits have been extensively studied on the lunar nearside by remote sensing via telescopes and numerous spacecraft, and in some cases, in situ robotically and by astronauts. Only recently have the deposits on the entire farside been able to be observed and evaluated to the same degree. There are spatially extensive plains deposits located throughout the lunar farside highlands whose formation has remained ambiguous. Many of the plains deposits in the lunar farside highlands display higher albedos than mare materials. Some deposits are located in close proximity to relatively younger impact craters suggesting that plains could be composed of cryptomare or ejecta materials. Some deposits are within the range in which ejecta from large basin-forming events (e.g., SPA and Orientale) likely distributed large amounts of ejecta across the surface. Here we are conducting a series of observations and models in order to resolve the nature and origin of lunar farside plains deposits. Understanding these plains is important for understanding the volcanic and impact histories of the lunar farside, and is important for future mapping and thermal modeling studies