NONLINEAR FORCED-RESPONSE CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTAINED FLUIDS IN MICROGRAVITY

An experimental study of the change in the lateral slosh behavior of c ontained fluids between earth and space is presented. The experimental apparatus used to determine the slosh characteristics is described, a nd a nonlinear analytical model of a coupled fluid-spacecraft system i s outlined. The forced-response characteristics of silicone oil distil led water in a cylindrical tank with either a Bat or a spherical botto m are reported and discussed. A comparison of the measured earth and s pace results identifies and highlights the effects of gravity on the l inear and nonlinear slosh behavior of these fluids.