Title

Measuring convection with particle image velocimetry in miscible polymer systems

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-2002

Abstract

Convective fluid motion created by the formation of a miscible polymer/monomer interface and induced thermal and conversion gradients can be measured using particle image velocimetry (PIV). PIV uses a sheet of laser light passing through a sample to illuminate neutrally buoyant tracer particles that scatter the laser light and follow the convective motion. The miscible polymer/monomer interfaces were created by the photopolymerization of half of the sample using a high intensity fiber optic UV light source and a sharp mask in a process very similar to photolithography. Studies have been carried out involving the formation of the interface and the creation of thermal gradients within the interface by heating the sample. Video images of the reactions and the resultant fluid flow were analyzed using particle tracking software provided by NASA. From the vector data, we can determine the magnitude and direction of the induced fluid flow and generate vector maps of the fluid motion under different experimental conditions. The experimental data will be used to develop a numerical simulation of the Effective Interfacial Tension Induced Convection (EITIC) caused by the formation of an interface between two miscible fluids. This method will be used as part of a flight investigation aboard the International Space Station to investigate the miscible polymer systems in the absence of buoyancy-driven convection. © 2001 by John A. Pojman.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

40th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit

This document is currently not available here.

COinS