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Turbulent Transition in Electromagnetically Levitated DropsElectromagnetic levitation (EML) is an important tool in materials research. Because a sample can be processed without contact with a container, experiments may be performed on high temperature, highly reactive, and undercooled liquid metals. Many of these experiments are affected by fluid flow in the sample, driven by the electromagnetic positioning force. Despite the importance of convection in these experiments, the transition to turbulence is not well understood in this system. However, we have observed a transition from laminar to turbulent flow in EML droplets in the course of microgravity experiments in TEMPUS on the Space Shuttle (STS-94). The transition occurs repeatably and over a narrow range of conditions. These experimental observations are compared with two competing theories about the transition to turbulence. Also, the results of a particle tracking study of the instabilities leading up to the transition to turbulence are presented.
Document ID
20000109945
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Hyers, Robert W.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA United States)
Trapaga, G.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA United States)
Abedian, B.
(Tufts Univ. Medford, MA United States)
Matson, D. M.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA United States)
Rose, M. Franklin
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2000
Subject Category
Fluid Mechanics And Thermodynamics
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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