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Bubble and Drop Nonlinear Dynamics (BDND)Free drops and bubbles are weakly nonlinear mechanical systems that are relatively simple to characterize experimentally in 1-G as well as in microgravity. The understanding of the details of their motion contributes to the fundamental study of nonlinear phenomena and to the measurement of the thermophysical properties of freely levitated melts. The goal of this Glovebox-based experimental investigation is the low-gravity assessment of the capabilities of a modular apparatus based on ultrasonic resonators and on the pseudo- extinction optical method. The required experimental task is the accurate measurements of the large-amplitude dynamics of free drops and bubbles in the absence of large biasing influences such as gravity and levitation fields. A single-axis levitator used for the positioning of drops in air, and an ultrasonic water-filled resonator for the trapping of air bubbles have been evaluated in low-gravity and in 1-G. The basic feasibility of drop positioning and shape oscillations measurements has been verified by using a laptop-interfaced automated data acquisition and the optical extinction technique. The major purpose of the investigation was to identify the salient technical issues associated with the development of a full-scale Microgravity experiment on single drop and bubble dynamics.
Document ID
19990019812
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Trinh, E. H.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Leal, L. Gary
(California Univ. Santa Barbara, CA United States)
Thomas, D. A.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX United States)
Crouch, R. K.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1998
Publication Information
Publication: Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL-1)
Subject Category
Materials Processing
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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