Three-Dimensional Measurement of Marangoni Convection under Microgravity by Utilizing TR-IA#4 Sounding Rocket

Abstract

A space experiment was carried out to investigate Marangoni convection in a liquid bridge. The three-dimensional velocity profile of Marangoni convection in a large liquid bridge between two coaxial disks was measured under microgravity using sounding rocket TR-IA#4. A large scale liquid bridge of 50 mm in diameter was formed successfully and sustained stably. In the first stage of the temperature difference of 11 K, flow field was axi- symmetric . In the final period, temperature difference was increased up to 50 K. The Marangoni convection was enhanced and a non-axisymmetric flow profile was observed. The flow was measured with the use of four CCD cameras. The positions of tracer particles were determined and three-dimensional flow field was obtained.