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Numerical simulations of bubble motion in a vibrated cell under microgravity using level set and VOF algorithms
Timothy J Friesen1, Hiroyuki Takahira, Lisa Allegro
1Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|November 26, 2002
Summary
Fluid interface stability under microgravity vibrations is key for space experiments. Simulations accurately predicted bubble motion, confirming linear dependence on container vibration.
Area of Science:
- Fluid dynamics
- Materials science in microgravity
- Computational physics
Background:
- Understanding fluid interface stability under microgravity is crucial for space-based materials science.
- The STS-85 mission investigated the behavior of a large bubble subjected to controlled vibrations on the Space Shuttle Discovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To simulate and analyze the motion of a fluid interface (large bubble) under microgravity conditions with controlled vibrations.
- To validate computational models against experimental data from the STS-85 mission.
Main Methods:
- Two- and three-dimensional simulations were performed.
- Level set and volume-of-fluid interface tracking algorithms were employed.
- Simulations were compared with experimental results from the STS-85 mission.
Main Results:
- Simulations accurately predicted the experimentally observed bubble translation behavior.
- A linear dependence of bubble translation amplitude on container translation amplitude was confirmed.
- The simulation model validated predictions from a previous theoretical inviscid model.
Conclusions:
- Computational simulations are effective tools for understanding fluid interface dynamics in microgravity.
- The study confirms the linear relationship between bubble and container motion under vibration.
- Validated models can aid in the design of future microgravity experiments.