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Results for “Capillarity”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1988

Initial conditions implied by t exp 1/2 solidification of a sphere with capillarity and interfacial kinetics

The paper explores the initial conditions implied by t exp 1/2 growth of a spherical crystal solidifying from a pure, undercooled melt, including the effects of both capillarity and interface kinetics, and relates the findings to initial conditions that would be expected on the basis of classical nucleation theory. For crystal sizes near the nucleation radius, the calculated temperature profiles show a cold region ahead of the advancing interface that is even more undercooled than the undercooled bath. This cold region acts as a local heat sink that compensates for the reduced growth speed that would otherwise result from capillarity and kinetics, leading to precisely the same t exp 1/2 growth law that would have been obtained had both capillarity and kinetics been neglected.

Sekerka, R. F.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Phase Separation, Capillarity, and Odd-Surface Flows in Chiral Active Matter

Active phase separations evade canonical thermodynamic descriptions and have thus challenged our understanding of coexistence and interfacial phenomena. Considerable progress has been made towards a nonequilibrium theoretical description of these traditionally thermodynamic concepts. Spatial parity symmetry is conspicuously assumed in much of this progress, despite the ubiquity of chirality in experimentally realized systems. Here, in this Letter, we derive a theory for the phase coexistence and interfacial fluctuations of a system that microscopically violates spatial parity. We find suppression of the phase separation as chirality is increased as well as the development of steady-state currents tangential to the interface dividing the phases. These odd flows are irrelevant to stationary interfacial properties, with stability, capillary fluctuations, and surface area minimization determined entirely by the capillary surface tension. Using large-scale Brownian dynamics simulations, we find excellent agreement with our theoretical scaling predictions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Phase-field modeling of stored-energy-driven grain growth with intra-granular variation in dislocation density

Abstract We present a phase-field (PF) model to simulate the microstructure evolution occurring in polycrystalline materials with a variation in the intra-granular dislocation density. The model accounts for two mechanisms that lead to the grain boundary migration: the driving force due to capillarity and that due to the stored energy arising from a spatially varying dislocation density. In addition to the order parameters that distinguish regions occupied by different grains, we introduce dislocation density fields that describe spatial variation of the dislocation density. We assume that the dislocation density decays as a function of the distance the grain boundary has migrated. To demonstrate and parameterize the model, we simulate microstructure evolution in two dimensions, for which the initial microstructure is based on real-time experimental data. Additionally, we applied the model to study the effect of a cyclic heat treatment (CHT) on the microstructure evolution. Specifically, we simulated stored-energy-driven grain growth during three thermal cycles, as well as grain growth without stored energy that serves as a baseline for comparison. We showed that the microstructure evolution proceeded much faster when the stored energy was considered. A non-self-similar evolution was observed in this case, while a nearly self-similar evolution was found when the microstructure evolution is driven solely by capillarity. These results suggest a possible mechanism for the initiation of abnormal grain growth during CHT. Finally, we demonstrate an integrated experimental-computational workflow that utilizes the experimental measurements to inform the PF model and its parameterization, which provides a foundation for the development of future simulation tools capable of quantitative prediction of microstructure evolution during non-isothermal heat treatment.

Materials Science↗
NASA NTRS1984

The Effect of Solidification Rate on Morphological Stability

At low solidification rates, the criterion for the onset of morphological instability parallels closely the criterion of constitutional supercooling. At somewhat larger rates of solidification, however, the results of the perturbation theory of morphological instability differ significantly from the predictions of constitutional supercooling. This arises because the critical wave length for instability decreases as solidification rate increases and thus the effects of capillarity (solid-liquid surface tension) play a strong stabilizing role. This gives rise to the concept of absolute stability, according to which the system will always be stable for a sufficiently large rate of solidification. This enhanced stabilization by capillarity is present only so long as local equilibrium is maintained at the solid-liquid interface. If the interfacial temperature drops below its equilibrium value by an amount dependent on growth rate, oscillatory morphological instabilities can occur. The differences among these various stability criteria are illustrated by means of some simple two-dimensional diagrams that should supplant the conventional plots of (temperature gradient)/(growth rate) vs. alloy concentration.

Sekerka, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Rate limits in silicon sheet growth - The connections between vertical and horizontal methods

Meniscus-defined techniques for the growth of thin silicon sheets fall into two categories: vertical and horizontal growth. The interactions of the temperature field and the crystal shape are analyzed for both methods using two-dimensional finite-element models which include heat transfer and capillarity. Heat transfer in vertical growth systems is dominated by conduction in the melt and the crystal, with almost flat melt/crystal interfaces that are perpendicular to the direction of growth. The high axial temperature gradients characteristic of vertical growth lead to high thermal stresses. The maximum growth rate is also limited by capillarity which can restrict the conduction of heat from the melt into the crystal. In horizontal growth the melt/crystal interface stretches across the surface of the melt pool many times the crystal thickness, and low growth rates are achievable with careful temperature control. With a moderate axial temperature gradient in the sheet a substantial portion of the latent heat conducts along the sheet and the surface of the melt pool becomes supercooled, leading to dendritic growth. The thermal supercooling is surpressed by lowering the axial gradient in the crystal; this configuration is the most desirable for the growth of high quality crystals. An expression derived from scaling analysis relating the growth rate and the crucible temperature is shown to be reliable for horizontal growth.

Thomas, Paul D.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Capillary-Driven Flow in Liquid Filaments Connecting Orthogonal Channels

Capillary phenomena plays an important role in the management of product water in PEM fuel cells because of the length scales associated with the porous layers and the gas flow channels. The distribution of liquid water within the network of gas flow channels can be dramatically altered by capillary flow. We experimentally demonstrate the rapid movement of significant volumes of liquid via capillarity through thin liquid films which connect orthogonal channels. The microfluidic experiments discussed provide a good benchmark against which the proper modeling of capillarity by computational models may be tested. The effect of surface wettability, as expressed through the contact angle, on capillary flow will also be discussed.

Allen, Jeffrey S.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Controlling matric potential in microfluidics to examine microbial dynamics in unsaturated porous media

The use of microfluidics for the study of soil microbial ecology is an emerging field. Most microfluidic studies of biological systems, however, have been performed under fully saturated conditions that are not representative of natural soil. Therefore, while microfluidics offer many unique capabilities that other methodologies cannot, they are not currently suited to address the effects of matric potential, an important variable defining the microbial moisture niche. Here, a methodology is presented that allows the user to control the aqueous conditions within microfluidic networks by manipulating matric potential using a hanging water column. The method relies on hydrophilic surface treatment of the microfluidic device using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and incorporating a bed of small pores at the network boundaries, which serve as a porous ceramic plate analogue (PPA). The method was validated on a simple capillary bundle and then on a more complex pore network. A water retention curve, exhibiting hysteresis, was generated for the pore network over a narrow matric potential range of 0 to – 5 kPa. Both the drainage and wetting curves were reproducible, as were the spatial configuration and the number of fragmented moisture niches in the pore network, particularly on the drainage curve. In contrast, the wetting curve exhibited greater variability in spatial configuration due to the “ink bottle effect,” where capillarity was interrupted by wider pore bodies. Ultimately, the methodology provides realistic pore-scale moisture conditions that can be easily manipulated and maintained, enabling new opportunities to explore soil biophysics and microbial biogeography in unsaturated porous media. As a brief example, images showing the localization of fluorescently tagged Pantoea sp. YR343 at −4.3 kPa are presented, highlighting bacterial distributions in water films and air-water interfaces.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Amphiphilic nanopores that condense undersaturated water vapor and exude water droplets

Condensation of water vapor in confined geometries, known as capillary condensation, is a fundamental phenomenon with far-reaching implications. While hydrophilic pores enable liquid formation from undersaturated vapor without energy input, the condensate typically remains confined, limiting practical utility. Here, we explore the use of amphiphilic nanoporous polymer-infiltrated nanoparticle films that condense and release liquid water under isothermal and undersaturated conditions. By tuning the polymer fraction and nanoparticle size, we optimize condensation and droplet formation. As vapor pressure increases, voids fill with condensate, which subsequently exudes onto the surface as microscopic droplets. This behavior, enabled by a balance of polymer hydrophobicity and capillarity, reveals how amphiphilic nanostructures can drive accessible water collection. Our findings provide design insights for materials supporting energy-efficient water harvesting and heat management without external input.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
NASA NTRS1962

STABILITY OF FILM BOILING TWO-PHASE FLOW IN CRYOGENIC SYSTEMS

The stability of film boiling two phase flow is investigated referring in particular to saturated cryogenic liquids. This type of fluid motion is unstable, such that a range of wave numbers will always be present in which disturbances are amplified. Further the mode of operation of the energy supply system may favour temperature fluctuations of large amplitude if the circuit does not provide feed-back compensation. The theoretically predicted stabilization due to capillarity is reduced considerably in liquefied gases with low surface tension, such as hydrogen. This effect causes the transition to turbulent flow to occur at low Reynolds numbers, and increases the heat transport in the turbulent regime. A comparison with experimental data, (horizontal cylinder), shows that the "critical" film Reynolds number ūδ/𝜈, at which instabilities become effective, is lowered from approximately 200, (O2), to about 30, (H2). Similar results have been found with other configurations. Therefore application of laminar film boiling solutions is restricted to small objects, entrance regions, or stagnation points. Turbulent correlations given so far are valid only for a certain group of substances with similar behavior.

LIQUID FLOW↗
NASA NTRS1969

Two phase flow and heat transfer in porous beds under variable body forces, part 2

Analytical and experimental investigations of a pilot model of a channel for the study of two-phase flow under low or zero gravity are presented. The formulation of dimensionless parameters to indicate the relative magnitude of the effects of capillarity, gravity, pressure gradient, viscosity, and inertia is described. The investigation is based on the principal equations of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. Techniques were investigated by using a laser velocimeter for measuring point velocities of the fluid within the porous material without disturbing the flow.

Evers, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1972

An electrohydrodynamic heat pipe.

A heat pipe of new design, using an electrode structure to orient and guide the dielectric liquid phase flow, is proposed. Analysis indicates that the operation of the electrohydrodynamic heat pipe is in direct analogy to capillary devices, with the polarization force acting in place of capillarity. Advantages of these new heat pipes include greatly reduced liquid friction, electrohydrodynamically enhanced evaporation and condensation heat transfer, and a possible voltage-controlled on/off feature. Preliminary calculations indicate that relatively high performance devices are possible.

Jones, T. B.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Electrohydrodynamic heat pipes.

An electrohydrodynamic heat pipe of radical design is proposed which substitutes polarization electrohydrodynamic force effects for capillarity in collecting, guiding, and pumping a condensate liquid phase. The discussed device is restricted to the use of dielectric liquids as working fluids. Because of the relatively poor thermal transport properties of these liquids, capillary heat pipes using these liquids have not been high performance devices. The employment of the electrohydrodynamic concept should enhance this performance and help fill the performance gap that exists in the temperature range from 250 F to 750 F for 'conventional' capillary heat pipes.

Jones, T. B.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Dislocation generation during early stage sintering.

Discussion of the effects of capillarity-induced stresses on dislocations during early stage sintering. A special version of Hirth's (1963) theoretical calculation procedures modified to describe dislocation nucleation on planes meeting the sintering body's neck surface obliquely is shown to predict plastic flow at stress levels know to exist between micron size metal particles in the early stages of sintering.

Sheehan, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Fluid physics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer experiments in space

An overstudy committee was formed to study and recommend fundamental experiments in fluid physics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer for experimentation in orbit, using the space shuttle system and a space laboratory. The space environment, particularly the low-gravity condition, is an indispensable requirement for all the recommended experiments. The experiments fell broadly into five groups: critical-point thermophysical phenomena, fluid surface dynamics and capillarity, convection at reduced gravity, non-heated multiphase mixtures, and multiphase heat transfer. The Committee attempted to assess the effects of g-jitter and other perturbations of the gravitational field on the conduct of the experiments. A series of ground-based experiments are recommended to define some of the phenomena and to develop reliable instrumentation.

Dodge, F. T.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Study of growth of single crystal ribbon in space

The technical feasibility is studied of growing single-crystal silicon ribbon in the space environment. Procedures are described for calculating the electromagnetic fields produced in a silicon ribbon by an rf shaping coil. The forces on the ribbon and the degree of shaping to be expected are determined. The expected steady-state temperature distribution in the ribbon is calculated in the one-dimensional approximation. Calculations on simplified models indicate, that lack of flatness of the shaped ribbon and excessive heating of the melt by the eddy currents induced by the shaping fields may pose problems. An analysis of the relative effects of various kinds of forces other than electromagnetic showed that in the space environment capillarity forces would dominate, and that the shape of the melt is thus principally determined by the shape of any solids with which it comes in contact. This suggests that ribbon may be produced simply by drawing between parallel wires. A concept is developed for a process of off-angle growth, in which the ribbon is pulled at an angle to the solidification front. Such a process promises to offer increased growth rate, better homogeneity, and thinner ribbon.

Wood, V. E.↗