TRANSITION OF OSCILLATORY FLOATING HALF ZONE CONVECTION FROM EARTHS GRAVITY TO MICROGRAVITY

Oscillatory features of floating half zone convection were experimenta lly studied by using the drop shaft facility of Japan Microgravity Cen ter which supported microgravity period of 10 s. Coordinated measureme nts including free surface deformation and oscillation, temperature an d flow pattern in both 1-g and micro-g environment were obtained. The oscillatory frequency and amplitude in micro-g condition were lower an d larger than the ones in l-g condition, respectively. The results gav e, at first time, the oscillatory features such as free surface wave i n micro-g, coordinated measurements of more than two physical quantiti es in the micro-g, and transition of thermocapillary oscillatory conve ction from I-g to micro-g. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.