The Gas Bubble Behavior under Surface Tension Change in Microgravity Conditions

Abstract

The paper presents the study of the influence of surface tension and cohesive angle changes on the behavior of bubbles (drops), fixed on the solid surface, in decreased gravity and microgravity conditions. A new mathematical model of the behavior of the gas bubbles (drops), fixed on the solid surface under the surface tension and cohesive angle changes in decreased and microgravity and has been developed. The developed model permitted to numerically calculate the gas bubbles (drops) profiles behavior and their common surface energy change under surface tension and cohesive angle changes in decreased gravity and microgravity conditions. The developed model permitted also to estimate conditions of bubbles (drops) tear from and fixation on the solid surface under surface tension and cohesive angle change in these conditions. These calculations and estimations have been proved on the conducted parabolic aircraft's tests. The tests showed that the developed model can correctly simulate the gas bubbles and drops profiles behavior, precisely calculate their common surface energy change and estimate conditions of their tear from and fixation on the solid surface in reduced and microgravity conditions.