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A zero-gravity demonstration of the collision and coalescence of water dropletsThe mechanics of the collision and coalescence of liquid droplets is one of the main research areas in the fields of nuclear physics, astrophysics, meteorology and fluid mechanics. The crew members on the Skylab 3 and 4 missions were requested to perform demonstrations of the collision and coalescence of water droplets under the low gravity environment at orbital altitude. In Skylab 4 two water droplets with equal volumes, 30 cu cm each, were used. A dark colored droplet (contaminated with grape drink) moving with a velocity of 3.14 cm/sec collided with a stationary pink colored droplet (contaminated with strawberry drink) and coalescence occurred. Theoretical models are proposed to study the various stages of the collision-coalescence processes. Special considerations are concentrated in the investigation of the bounce-coalescence and coalescence-instability processes. The surface tension of the coalesced droplets was calculated to be 52 dynes/cm in perfect agreement with laboratory measurements made after the flight using a reproduction of the liquids.
Document ID
19750027978
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Hung, R. J.
(Alabama, University Huntsville, Ala., United States)
Vaughan, O. H.
Smith, R. E.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Space Sciences Laboratory, Huntsville, Ala., United States)
Date Acquired
August 8, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1974
Subject Category
Fluid Mechanics And Heat Transfer
Report/Patent Number
AIAA PAPER 74-1256
Accession Number
75A12050
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS8-30247
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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