Thermocapillary flow under microgravity — Experimental results

Abstract Results from the thermocapillary flow experiments conducted aboard the Spacelab are summarized. Steady and oscillatory thermocapillary flows were investigated in open cylindrical containers with two types of heating. The conditions for the onset of oscillations and ensuing oscillation patterns were determined. The effects of heating mode on the flows are discussed. It is shown that a dimensionless parameter representing free surface deformation correlates all available data for onset conditions well. The oscillation frequencies, infrared images of free surface and free surface waves during oscillations are discussed.