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Thermocapillary Convection Space Experiment on the SJ-10 Recoverable Satellite
Published on: March 11, 2020
Granular convection in microgravity
N Murdoch1, B Rozitis, K Nordstrom
1Laboratoire Lagrange, UMR 7293, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, 06300 Nice, France. murdoch@oca.eu
Physical Review Letters
|February 7, 2013
Summary
Gravity significantly impacts secondary convective flows in dense granular shear flows. These flows diminish in microgravity and strengthen under higher gravity, driven by gravity-tuned frictional interactions.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Geophysics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Dense granular shear flows are common in geophysical and industrial processes.
- Secondary convective-like flows can occur in sheared granular materials.
- The role of gravity in driving these secondary flows is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally investigate the influence of gravity on secondary convective flows in dense granular shear.
- To determine how varying gravitational forces affect particle interactions and flow behavior.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a microgravity-modified Taylor-Couette shear cell during parabolic flights.
- Conducted experiments under both microgravity and enhanced gravity conditions.
- Analyzed primary and secondary flow fields and plastic deformation.
Main Results:
- Secondary convective-like flows were found to be near zero in microgravity.
- These secondary flows were enhanced under high-gravity conditions.
- Primary flow fields remained largely unaffected by gravity.
- Plastic deformation increased with increasing gravitational forces.
Conclusions:
- Gravity plays a crucial role in tuning frictional particle-particle and particle-wall interactions.
- These gravity-tuned frictional forces are the likely drivers of secondary convective flows in granular shear.
- Friction is identified as the fundamental cause of gravity-dependent secondary flows.
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