Journal article

Publication year: 1996

Pages: 201-207

Journal: Microgravity Science and Technology

Volume number: 9

Issue number: 3

ISSN: 0938-0108

Publisher: Springer

Abstract: 
We investigated by interferometry and flow visualization a cubic fluid cavity (L = 20 mm) with free and totally flat (no menisci) upper surface and heated/cooled from the side. Buoyancy and thermocapillarity are of comparable impact on the flow in such a fluid sample. These studies are done in preparation of our experiment MARCO under microgravity in the facility HOLOP during the D-2 Spacelab mission. They show for the first time the temperature filed with high resolution. Thermocapillary convection dominates the flow- and temperature-field near the free surface, shifting the hot isotherms to the cold side. This generates a stable stratification below, suppressing buoyancy to a certain degree. The comparison of the experimental results with numerical ones shows full agreement. Lowering the liquid depth D in the gap gives rise to menisci at the cold and the hot side. This changes the heating conditions in favour of thermocapillarity and suppresses buoyant flow because the latter scales with D-3 whereas thermocapillarity scales with D-1.

Harvard Citation style: Schwabe, D. and Durr, H. (1996) Holographic interferometry and flow visualization by tracers applied to buoyant-thermocapillary convection in an open rectangular gap, Microgravity Science and Technology, 9(3), pp. 201-207

APA Citation style: Schwabe, D., & Durr, H. (1996). Holographic interferometry and flow visualization by tracers applied to buoyant-thermocapillary convection in an open rectangular gap. Microgravity Science and Technology. 9(3), 201-207.