EAGER: Critical Gap-Wetting Experiments in the Emerging Commercial Rocket Industry's Low-Gravity Research Environment

[0940678] collicott这项研究将进行实验，以测试三维容器中临界润湿的预测。临界润湿是两流体系统的特性，其中固体容器的相对润湿性（由液体与固体的接触角描述）和容器的形状决定了液体是否会在容器中形成有限高度的单值静态界面。三维模型将跟踪临界润湿现象缺乏坚实的数学基础和实验验证的条件，而在二维圆柱形容器中存在临界润湿。如果不能正确预测临界润湿，则会导致依赖毛细管流体物理的设备或系统在液体停留在一个区域或液体芯流到另一个区域时性能下降或失效。这两种行为在当今和未来的许多小规模流体系统中都很重要。预测这种情况对于两相流体系统的正常运行非常重要，例如小型燃料电池通道的水管理、肺部健康、基于mems的医疗和其他仪器以及液体推进系统。计划中的实验将是新兴的商业亚轨道火箭飞行行业的首批飞行之一。它将提供其他方法无法获得的结果，并且将比传统的亚轨道火箭测试项目更快、更便宜地提供这些结果。在当地，影响将通过这项nsf资助的研究对普渡大学本科生的机会产生影响。普渡大学新闻社过去在这一研究领域的研究进展已经产生了国际范围内的正面新闻。这个实验项目将展示新兴的亚轨道火箭工业如何在不久的将来有效地用于关键研究。

0940678CollicottThis research will perform experiments to test predictions of critical wetting in three-dimensional containers. Critical wetting is the property of a two-fluid system where the relative wettability of the solid container, described by the contact angle of a liquid on the solid, and the shape of the container determine whether the liquid will form a finite-height single-valued static interface in a container. 3D models will track conditions where the critical wetting phenomenon lacks the solid mathematical foundation and experimental verification that exists for critical wetting in two-dimensional cylindrical containers. Failure to properly predict critical wetting leads to reduced performance or failure in devices or systems that rely on capillary fluid physics when the liquid remains in one region or the liquid wicks away to another region. Both behaviors are important in numerous small-scale fluids systems operating today and envisioned for the future. Predicting such conditions is important for proper two-phase fluid system operations, such as for water management in small fuel cell channels, pulmonary health, MEMS-based medical and other instrumentation, and liquid propulsion systems. The planned experiment will be one of the first to fly in the emerging commercial sub-orbital rocket flight industry. It will deliver results that cannot be obtained by other methods and will deliver these results far faster and cheaper than through traditional sub-orbital rocket test programs. Locally, the impact will be through the impact that this NSF-funded research will have on undergraduate opportunities at Purdue. Past research advances of this research area publicized by Purdue News Service have generated positive news of international scope. This experimental program will show how the emerging sub-orbital rocket industry may be effectively used for critical research for the near future.