Hao Wang, Jason Hartwig, Bohan Huang, J. N. Chung, Runyang Cui, Chase Camarotti, Arthur Werkheiser
{"title":"Screen Compliance Testing with Controlled Pre-Tension for Screen Channel Liquid Acquisition Devices","authors":"Hao Wang, Jason Hartwig, Bohan Huang, J. N. Chung, Runyang Cui, Chase Camarotti, Arthur Werkheiser","doi":"10.1007/s12217-025-10179-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12217-025-10179-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Screen channel liquid acquisition devices (LADs) are used to separate gas and liquid phases within a propellant tank in microgravity so that single-phase liquid can be extracted to the transfer line. Screen channel LADs rely on porous mesh screens and surface tension forces to allow liquid to flow while blocking vapor penetration. During the transient startup of propellant transfer, the liquid must be accelerated from rest to the steady flow demand velocity, which causes the screen to deform or comply. Compliance depends on multiple parameters, most notably the mesh type and open area. Recent testing has shown that the screen pretension level is also a variable that must be controlled and quantified. This paper presents new screen compliance design, testing, and experimental results to determine the effect of pretension. Testing is conducted on six screen meshes, two metal types, three open area aspect ratios, two orientations, and three tension levels. Results show that the screen compliance rate increases with increasing pretension in both linear and nonlinear regimes and that mesh type, metal type, open area, and orientation all affect compliance.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":707,"journal":{"name":"Microgravity Science and Technology","volume":"37 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144084807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Surface Free Energy Measurement of Low Energy and High Energy Surfaces in Microgravity Conditions","authors":"Abrar Ahmed, Prashant R. Waghmare","doi":"10.1007/s12217-025-10181-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12217-025-10181-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study presents a comprehensive exploration of a theoretical model designed to measure the surface energy of solids under microgravity conditions. While numerous studies have investigated various techniques for determining the surface energy of solids through the use of pairs of liquids based on Young’s equation of contact angle, these methods often lack accuracy and are impractical in space-like environments due to safety concerns. In this investigation, we critically examine and validate the sessile drop accelerometry model, specifically developed for measuring the surface free energy of solids in microgravity conditions through the deposition of a single water droplet. This model encompasses a set of governing equations that enable the determination of interfacial energies as a function of changes in the droplet’s shape resulting from the release of gravitational energy. To validate and analyze the theoretical model, a sophisticated experimental payload was developed, and a series of rigorous experiments were conducted under both reduced gravity and hypergravity conditions, simulated using parabolic flight. The measured surface free energy values were compared against traditional polar-nonpolar-based surface energy measurement techniques, demonstrating strong agreement and highlighting the robustness of the SDAcc model. Through rigorous theoretical and experimental analyses, this study establishes a fundamental understanding of the influence of gravity on metastable droplet morphology and its implications for accurate surface energy determination. These findings will contribute to the advancement of interfacial science in reduced gravity environments and open new avenues for surface characterization techniques in space applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":707,"journal":{"name":"Microgravity Science and Technology","volume":"37 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144084934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Acceleration Flight Control for Reduced Gravity Flight in Large Fixed-Wing Aircraft","authors":"Mohammed Nasser Aldosari, Eric Feron","doi":"10.1007/s12217-025-10182-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12217-025-10182-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Access to reduced-gravity environments is a cornerstone of space research, enabling scientific experiments in space-like conditions. While parabolic flights have long served as an accessible platform for microgravity studies, their reliance on manual piloting limits precision and repeatability. This paper introduces an autonomous flight control framework designed to execute reduced-gravity maneuvers in large fixed-wing aircraft. The proposed system regulates all four phases of the maneuver by commanding a reference acceleration profile. This approach enables precise control over the aircraft’s acceleration, ensuring consistent reduced gravity conditions critical for experimental applications. The control architecture comprises three specialized controllers: one each for tangential and normal acceleration regulation and another for minimizing angle-of-attack variations to dampen pitch oscillations. The proposed framework is evaluated on a nonlinear Boeing 747 model implemented in MATLAB Simulink. Simulation results show that the controller maintains residual accelerations within <span>(pm 0.02,g)</span> for zero-, lunar-, and Martian-gravity manoeuvres, matching the error margins reported in published flight data. Key challenges are addressed, such as non-minimum phase dynamics, altitude-dependent air density variations, and pitch oscillations at the center of gravity. These findings contribute to the advancement of autonomous flight control for more reliable and precise reduced-gravity research.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":707,"journal":{"name":"Microgravity Science and Technology","volume":"37 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12217-025-10182-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144073893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Vladimirovna Fedchuk, Vasily Borisovich Rusanov, Milena Ilinichna Koloteva, Anastasia Ivanovna Tersintseva, Alexey Vladimirovich Salnikov, Elena Sergeevna Luchitskaya, Galina Arkadyevna Fomina, Anna Grigorievna Chernikova
{"title":"Potential of Interval Training Protocol on a Short-Arm Human Centrifuge for Orthostatic Intolerance Prevention After Space Flight Conditions","authors":"Maria Vladimirovna Fedchuk, Vasily Borisovich Rusanov, Milena Ilinichna Koloteva, Anastasia Ivanovna Tersintseva, Alexey Vladimirovich Salnikov, Elena Sergeevna Luchitskaya, Galina Arkadyevna Fomina, Anna Grigorievna Chernikova","doi":"10.1007/s12217-025-10180-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12217-025-10180-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The decrease in orthostatic tolerance due to the deconditioning of cardiovascular system after space flight remains an urgent problem. The effect of longitudinal overloads on a short-arm human centrifuge (SAHC) is believed to be useful in preventing a decrease in orthostatic tolerance in astronauts after spaceflight through regular compensation of hydrostatic blood pressure, which is absent in microgravity. The analysis of adaptive reactions of the autonomic regulation system was carried out by analyzing heart rate variability, blood pressure was used to calculate hemodynamic parameters. These characteristics were analyzed in 6 male subjects (mean age 38 ± 7 (SD) years) during the protocol of training rotations on the SAHC and during a passive orthostatic test with foot support (tilt test). The nonparametric Wilcoxon criterion and Kendall’s rank correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis. During training rotations, an increase in heart rate (HR), a weakening of high-frequency (HF) and a significant increase in low-frequency (LF) spectral components of the heart rate were observed, indicating the involvement of the sympatho-vagal system with a predominance of sympathetic regulation. It is shown that after a series of rotations on the SAHC, there is a smaller increase in HR in an upright position during a tilt test, which indicates a decrease in excitability and reactivity of the sympathetic nervous system. There was also a decrease in the influence of suprasegmental (higher) autonomic centers on the regulation processes during orthostatic loading. This interval training protocol on the SAHC has a training effect and increases orthostatic stability.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":707,"journal":{"name":"Microgravity Science and Technology","volume":"37 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143932331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Guoqing Chen, Ge Yin, Yanni Jiang, Xiaoming Zhou, Yuequn Tao
{"title":"Numerical Investigation of the Influence of Nanoparticle Shape on Nanofluids Thermocapillary Convection Instability","authors":"Guoqing Chen, Ge Yin, Yanni Jiang, Xiaoming Zhou, Yuequn Tao","doi":"10.1007/s12217-025-10177-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12217-025-10177-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>For disclose the effect of nanoparticle shape on flow regime and critical condition of thermocapillary convection, the nanofluid thermocapillary convection with different shaped nanoparticles are investigated in this paper, and the oscillation characteristics of thermocapillary flow are analyzed. The results indicate that, the nanoparticles can significantly alter the oscillatory characteristics of thermocapillary convection instability, and the influence of platelet shaped nanoparticle is the strongest and followed by cylinder, blade, brick, and sphere nanoparticles. The main frequency of oscillatory thermocapillary convection decreases with the increase of sphericity, and the size of hydrothermal wave propagation angle at free surface is as follows: sphere > brick > cylinder > blade > platelet.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":707,"journal":{"name":"Microgravity Science and Technology","volume":"37 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143908669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comment on the Paper Magnetohydrodynamics Nanofluid Flow Containing Gyrotactic Microorganisms Propagating Over a Stretching Surface by Successive Taylor Series Linearization Method, A. Shahid, Z. Zhou, M. M. Bhatti, D. Tripathi, Microgravity Science and Technology (2018) 30:445–455","authors":"Asterios Pantokratoras","doi":"10.1007/s12217-025-10174-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12217-025-10174-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Some errors exist in the above paper.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":707,"journal":{"name":"Microgravity Science and Technology","volume":"37 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12217-025-10174-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143900663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chengcheng Chen, Wubing Miao, Ran Xu, Ye Wang, Jingyi Wu, Guang Yang
{"title":"Theoretical and Numerical Study of Bubble Blocking in Wetted Hierarchical Porous Structures","authors":"Chengcheng Chen, Wubing Miao, Ran Xu, Ye Wang, Jingyi Wu, Guang Yang","doi":"10.1007/s12217-025-10176-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12217-025-10176-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Porous media are widely used for gas–liquid phase separation in micro-gravity, but decreasing pore radius often results in both increased critical pressure for bubble penetration and increased flow resistance through the pores. To address this issue, the present study investigates the bubble dynamics within a hierarchical porous structure to optimize phase separation performance. A theoretical model was developed by analyzing the force balance on an isolated gas bubble to predict critical pressure. The Volume of Fluid (VOF) method was utilized to simulate bubble movement at the pore scale, with critical pressure determined by varying the pressure differential between the inlet and outlet. The effects of bubble radius, pore radius, pore length, and secondary pore location on the critical pressure and critical flow rate were analyzed. Hierarchical pores were found to improve the phase separation performance compared to single stage pores. Specifically, the presence of a secondary pore with pore length and radius of 30 μm increased the critical pressure by 110% and the critical flow rate by 26% compared to a single stage pore with a pore radius of 50 μm.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":707,"journal":{"name":"Microgravity Science and Technology","volume":"37 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143896741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pioneering the Future of Experimental Space Hardware: MiniFix - a Fully 3D-Printed and Highly Adaptable System for Biological Fixation in Space","authors":"Sebastian Feles, Raphael Keßler, Jens Hauslage","doi":"10.1007/s12217-025-10178-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12217-025-10178-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>MiniFix, a syringe-based biological fixation system (SBBFS) is a versatile, fully 3D-printed syringe-driven, stepper motor-operated platform designed for the chemical fixation of biological samples in space-based research. Unlike conventional systems, it leverages additive manufacturing to provide modularity and customizability, enabling manipulation and a chemical fixation of biological samples under altered gravity conditions. MiniFix has performed five successful missions on the MAPHEUS sounding rocket and has demonstrated its reliability and adaptability. The integrated thermal management system uses waste heat from the stepper motors to maintain accurate sample temperature and in turn reduces power consumption and weight. MiniFix is particularly notable for its flexibility, allowing adaptation to diverse biological model systems, from simple organisms to more complex tissue cultures. Its modular design and 3D-printing process enable quick, cost-effective adjustments for different experimental setups. It was successfully printed with three different materials– PLA (Polylactic acid), PETG (Polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified), and the biodegradable GreenTEC Pro. Its ability to integrate modifications such as illumination further enhances its adaptability for future space missions, for instance with photosynthetic organisms. By offering reliability, modular flexibility, and adaptation to a broad range of biological research goals, the SBBFS represents a new approach to construct flexible hardware for space and gravitational biology.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":707,"journal":{"name":"Microgravity Science and Technology","volume":"37 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12217-025-10178-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143879724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Melting Enhancement of Phase Change Material with Fins and Graphene Nanoplatelets Under Micro/Low Gravity for Thermal Management in Space Detector","authors":"Hao Peng, Kelong Jiang, Jianfu Zhao, Yujuan Gan, Yijun Shen","doi":"10.1007/s12217-025-10175-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12217-025-10175-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Thermal energy storage is an efficient way for thermal control of near-earth and deep space detectors, but the melting rate is restricted by low heat transfer performance of phase change material (PCM) and disappearance or suppression of natural convection under micro/low gravity. To accelerate melting of PCM under micro/low gravity, graphene nanoplatelet (GNP)-enhanced PCM with fins are proposed. The effects of fin shape, GNP concentration and gravity level on dynamic melting characteristics considering thermocapillary convection are investigated. The results show that the improvement effect of rectangular fins on melting rate is higher than that of triangular fins under microgravity; with the decrease of gravity level, the melting rate is reduced. The presence of GNP significantly promotes the melting under micro/low gravity. At GNP concentration of 0.03 vol%, the reduction of melting time can reach 58.2%, 49.4% and 51.6% at microgravity, moon’s gravity of 1.625 m s<sup>−2</sup> and Mars’ gravity of 3.711 m s<sup>−2</sup>, respectively.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":707,"journal":{"name":"Microgravity Science and Technology","volume":"37 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840455","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Effect of Buoyancy Convection and Geometric Variation on Temperature Field of C4F7N-Filled Gas-Insulated Metal Transmission Line","authors":"Zihan Chen, Xintong Mao, Wei Liu, Huilong Zhao, Bin Bo, Jia-Jia Yu","doi":"10.1007/s12217-025-10173-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12217-025-10173-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Gas-insulated Metal Transmission Line (GIL) represents a promising alternative to traditional overhead lines for long-distance electric power transmission. The thermal performance of GIL is crucial in determining the dielectric strength of materials, which subsequently affects both transmission capacity and security. In this study, a three-dimensional numerical model is introduced to analyze the coupled relationship between the flow field and temperature field of the environmentally friendly insulating gas perfluoroisobutyronitrile (C<sub>4</sub>F<sub>7</sub>N). The temperature and flow characteristics of C<sub>4</sub>F<sub>7</sub>N are analyzed at different Rayleigh numbers. Besides, the effect of GIL geometric size on the flow dynamics and temperature distribution are discussed. The results reveal that the enhancement of buoyancy convection contributes to the temperature drop of conducting body, which enhances the buoyancy convection in return. When the Rayleigh number is below 5 × 10<sup>5</sup>, the flow in GIL is weak and there is only slight variation in temperature of C<sub>4</sub>F<sub>7</sub>N along the lengthwise direction. However, as the Rayleigh number rises to 5 × 10<sup>5</sup>, the convection become pronounced and distinct variations in temperature distribution along GIL appears. When the Rayleigh number exceeds a threshold value of 1 × 10<sup>7</sup>, the flow instability occurs, leading to an asymmetric temperature distribution as well as the overall temperature drop along GIL. The maximum velocity occurs near the surface of the conduction. As the increase of radius ratio between inner and outer annular surface, both flow intensity strengthens and noticeable reductions in temperature become more apparent. These findings can be utilized for insulation design considerations within GIL systems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":707,"journal":{"name":"Microgravity Science and Technology","volume":"37 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143778149","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}