National Space Development Agency of Japan
National Space Development Agency of Japan
National Aerospace Laboratory
National Aerospace Laboratory
National Aerospace Laboratory
National Aerospace Laboratory
Japan Space Utilization Promotion Center
JGC Corporation
JGC Corporation
JGC Corporation
出版者
宇宙開発事業団
出版者(英)
National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA)
As the Marangoni convection is governed by a difference in the surface tension, especially in microgravity environment, it is very important to examine the phenomenon of such a convection and evaluate its effects on alloys with high-grade and homogeneous composition, when carrying out experiments on the production of alloys. Therefore, a microgravity experiment in a parabolic flight, in order to develop technology for measuring the surface tension (as an important physical property value in connection with the Marangoni convection) in the microgravity environment was conducted. In the experiment, a droplet within spherical acoustic levitation equipment was levitated and the method of calculating the surface tension based on the proper frequency was adopted which is obtained by measuring the vibration of such a liquid droplet. As a result of this experiment, it was possible to retain the position of the droplet and to measure the variation in the diameter of this levitating droplet using a measuring instrument utilizing laser beam, by combining the acoustic levitation equipment with the help of a supporting wire. In the experiment, It was unable to measure a highly reliable proper frequency or to confirm the effectiveness of this measuring technology. However, the possibility of measuring the surface tension using the measuring technology is encouraging, as a result of selecting a proper experimental liquid and improving the outside diameter measuring instrument.