Three-dimensional Measurement of Marangoni Convection in a liquid bridge under Microgravity Conditions in the TR-IA-4 Sounding Rocket

Abstract

Marangoni convection (thermocapillary convection) in a liquid bridge at high Marangoni numbers (above 1 x 105) was measured under microgravity by means of three-dimensional particle tracking velocimetry. Four cameras were installed; one for an end-view and three others for side-views. The camera images were recorded on 8 mm video tapes and were digi­tized, and the three-dimensional positions of the tracer particles reconstructed. The three­dimensional positions and velocities were then determined from the light reflection due to the deformation of the liquid bridge. A numerical simulation was also done for comparison. The velocity profiles obtained through the simulation and the experiment agreed well.