Papers by Keyword: Parabolic Flight

Abstract: During solidification of metallic alloys, thermosolutal natural convection plays a significant role in grain nucleation, subsequent growth and morphology, as well as the formation of casting defects. In this work, an Al-5wt%Ti-1wt%B inoculated Al-20wt%Cu alloy was solidified, near-isothermally, using a Bridgman-type gradient furnace, while being monitored in real-time via in-situ X-radiography as part of a parabolic flight microgravity campaign. Each parabola consisted of a transition through 24 seconds of hypergravity (1.8 g), followed by 22 seconds of microgravity, and a then a further 24 seconds of hypergravity. Solidification was controlled such that nucleation occurred coincident with the onset of microgravity. This allowed for the effects of microgravity on equiaxed nucleation and initial growth, followed by continuing solidification in hypergravity, to be observed, as well as the effect on the semi-coherent grain structure when transitioning between the two.

Abstract: In this paper, mass measurement devices (MMDs) developing by the authors for use in the International Space Station (ISS) are reviewed. First, Space Balance, which is a small mass measurement device (SMMD), is reviewed. In Space Balance, the momentum conservation between two objects, the subject mass and the reference mass, are compared. Then Space Scale, which is a body mass measurement device (BMMD), is reviewed. In Space Scale, a human subject is pulled using rubber string. Force is measured using a force transducer and acceleration is measured using optical interferometer. Both Space Balance and Space Scale have shown high accuracies in the ground experiments.