Research study on materials processing in space experiment M512

Abstract

A study program was conducted to clarify the role of gravity in the fluid mechanics of certain molten metal processes of potential significance to manufacturing in space. In particular, analyses were conducted of the M551 Metals Melting Experiment and the M553 Sphere Forming Experiment to be conducted in the M512 Facility onboard Skylab. The M551 experiment consisted of a study of electron beam welding of various metals, and the M553 experiment studied the formation of molten metal spheres by free-floating in a near zero-gravity environment. The analyses of these experiments and a comparison with ground-based and KC135 experimental results are presented