Simulation of drop motion in an acoustic positioning chamber.

Abstract

To support experiments scheduled for the First United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML-1) shuttle mission, experimental and computer simulation methods have been developed that allow ground-based investigation of the translational, rotational, and vibrational motions of single and dual liquid drops in an external acoustic field in a microgravity environment. The acoustic fields used are the 3-D orthogonal resonant modes of a rectangular chamber similar to the near ambient chamber of the drop physics module which will fly on USML-1. Results for the translation of two drops, and oscillation and rotation control of single drops will be presented. A software package allowing the simulation of actual manipulations to be performed for the flight experiments will be displayed. [Work supported by NASA through JPL Contract 958722.]