Reduced gravity testing and research capabilities at new 2.0 second drop tower

• Autorzy: Steinberg T.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Purpose: The Queensland University of Technology's has recently (2006) decommissioned a 1.9 second drop tower adapted for operation within an unused lift well of a building and has fabricated a purpose built, stand alone 2.0 second drop tower specifically to accommodate reduced gravity experimentation and manufacturing. The specifications and operational procedures of this new research facility are presented along with information regarding the expected benefits of manufacturing in a reduced gravity environment with focus on the production of metallic materials and nanomaterials production (including silica sol-gels and carbon nanotubes). Opportunities will also be discussed regarding both collaborative research and the provision of reduced gravity test or manufacturing services. Design/methodology/approach: The operational characteristics of a reduced gravity testing facility located in the School of Engineering Systems at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) are described. The Phenomena in Microgravity Laboratory (PML) operates the tower, and runs several research programs investigating gravity dependent phenomena. Several of these programs are outlined in this paper in the areas of combustion, fluid dynamics and nanomaterials. Findings: Calibration of the QUT drop tower has been performed, and it is currently used to conduct research in diverse disciplines with novel and useful results being obtained. Practical implications: Reduced gravity experimentation is important to many research groups working in various fields investigating both fundamental and applied aspects of diverse physical phenomena. Very few terrestrial or extra-terrestrial experimental facilities are currently available that allow researchers or manufacturers access to reduced gravity environments for their work. Originality/value: The QUT drop tower provides an economical and accessible reduced-gravity facility for use by scientists and industry both nationally and internationally.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

reduced gravity; microgravity; drop tower; space manufacturing; zero gravity

PL

redukcja ciężkości; mikrograwitacja; urządzenie zrzutowe; przestrzeń produkcyjna

• Wydawca: International OCSCO World Press
• Czasopismo: Journal of Achievements in Materials and Manufacturing Engineering
• Rocznik: 2008
• Tom: Vol. 31, nr 2
• Strony: 822--826
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 11 poz., rys., tab.

Twórcy

autor

Steinberg T.

• Phenomena in Microgravity Laboratory, School of Engineering Systems, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia,

Bibliografia

• [1] S. Anderson, Microgravity, UQ Honours, PhD Thesis, 1992.
• [2] J. Brinker, G. Scherer, Sol-Gel Science: The Physics and Chemistry of Sol-Gel Processing, Academic Press Inc., San Diego, 1990.
• [3] A. P. R. Edwards, B. P. Osborne, J. M. Stoltfuz, T. Howes, T. A. Steinberg, Instabilities and drop formation in cylindrical liquid jets in reduced gravity, Physics of Fluids 14/10 (2002) 3432-3435.
• [4] S. P. Lin, Absolute and convective instability of a viscous jet at microgravity, Fluid Mechanics Phenomena in Microgravity, ASME Journal of Applied Mechanics 187 (1993) 119-122.
• [5] S. P. Lin, Z. W. Lian, Absolute instability of a liquid jet in a gas, Physics of Fluids 1/3 (1989) 490-493.
• [6] Lord Rayleigh, On the instability of jets, Proceedings London Mathematical Society 1 (1878) 4-13.
• [7] C. L. Pienaar, T. Steinberg, J. Diniz Da Costa, M. G. Lu, Nanostructured Thin Silica Films Synthesised Under Reduced Gravity Conditions: A Preliminary Study, Proceedings of the 6th World Congress of Chemical Engineering, Melbourne, 2001.
• [8] E. J. A. Pope, Emerging applications of sol-gel technology, Key Engineering Materials 150 (1998) 141-152.
• [9] T. Snyder, J. Sitter, J. N. Chung, Design and Testing of an Airbag System for High-Mass, High-Velocity Deceleration, Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Control 119/4 (1997) 631-637.
• [10] T. A. Steinberg, Microgravity research and microgravity test facilities, Proceedings of the 8th National Space Engineering Symposium, Queensland, 1993, 327-333.
• [11] T. A. Steinberg, D. B. Wilson, The burning of metals and alloys in microgravity, Combustion and Flame 88 (1992) 309-320.