Hostname: page-component-6bf8c574d5-vmclg Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-23T19:22:12.717Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Active electrostatic stabilization of liquid bridges in low gravity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 April 2002

DAVID B. THIESSEN ,
MARK J. MARR-LYON  and
PHILIP L. MARSTON
DAVID B. THIESSEN
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-2814, USA
MARK J. MARR-LYON
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-2814, USA
PHILIP L. MARSTON
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-2814, USA
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

In experiments performed aboard NASA's low-gravity KC-135 aircraft, it was found that rapid active control of radial electrostatic stresses can be used to suppress the growth of the (2,0) mode on capillary bridges in air. This mode naturally becomes unstable on a cylindrical bridge when the length exceeds the Rayleigh–Plateau (RP) limit. Capillary bridges having a small amount of electrical conductivity were deployed with a ring electrode concentric with each end of the bridge. A signal produced by optically sensing the shape of the bridge was used to control the electrode potentials so as to counteract the growth of the (2,0) mode. Occasionally the uncontrolled growth of the (3,0) mode was observed when the length far exceeded the RP limit. Rapid breakup from the growth of the (2,0) mode on long bridges was confirmed following deactivation of the control.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 457 , 25 April 2002 , pp. 285 - 294
Copyright
© 2002 Cambridge University Press