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Surface Tension and Viscosity Measurements in Microgravity: Some Results and Fluid Flow Observations during MSL-1The viscosity of a liquid metal was successfully measured for the first time by a containerless method, the oscillating drop technique. This method also provides a means to obtain a precise, non-contact measurement of the surface tension of the droplet. This technique involves exciting the surface of the molten sample and then measuring the resulting oscillations; the natural frequency of the oscillating sample is determined by its surface tension, and the damping of the oscillations by the viscosity. These measurements were performed in TEMPUS, a microgravity electromagnetic levitator (EML), on the Space Shuttle as a part of the First Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL-1), which flew in April and July 1997 (STS-83 and STS-94). Some results of the surface tension and viscosity measurements are presented for Pd82Si18. Some observations of the fluid dynamic characteristics (dominant flow patterns, turbulent transition, cavitation, etc.) of levitated droplets are presented and discussed together with magnetohydrodynamic calculations, which were performed to justify these findings.
Document ID
19990064213
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Hyer, Robert W.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Trapaga, G.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA United States)
Flemings, M. C.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1999
Subject Category
Materials Processing
Meeting Information
Meeting: Microgravity Materials Science
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: February 14, 1999
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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